DHEC board picks former Duke Energy exec as next leader

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The governing board of South Carolina’s public health and environmental agency has picked a former Duke Energy executive as its next leader.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control board voted unanimously Friday to select Catherine Heigel, who was president of Duke Energy South Carolina from 2010 to 2012. She is currently an attorney with Elliot Davis in Greenville.

The vote comes two months after Gov. Nikki Haley picked longtime friend Eleanor Kitzman to head the agency. Kitzman withdrew amid tough questioning from senators. The Senate must confirm any nominee.

Kitzman was the only candidate for the job after Haley gave her name to the board’s chairman. Haley appoints the entire board.

The board took applications after Kitzman withdrew. The agency says 99 people applied.