Duke Energy named Catherine S. Stempien as vice president, corporate development, replacing Richard Bates, who is leaving Duke Energy to pursue other interests. In this role, Stempien will report directly to Steve K. Young, executive vice president and chief financial officer. Stempien has served as vice president, legal, for Duke Energy's Commercial Businesses organization since December 2012.

She has held leadership positions in the legal department in numerous areas including state and federal regulation, litigation, environmental, nuclear and commercial transactions. Stempien joined the company in 2003 as an associate general counsel for Cinergy Corp. in Cincinnati.

Previously, she was a senior attorney for AT&T Corp. in Basking Ridge, N.J., and AT&T Broadband in Englewood, Colo.