Lynn Good

Lynn J. Good
Born	Lynn J. Good Template:Birth year and age
Birthplace	Ohio, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Business executive
Known for	Chair, President, and CEO of Duke Energy (2013–2025)
Spouse(s)	Brian Good
Awards	Order of the Long Leaf Pine (2025), Citizen of the Carolinas (2025)

'Lynn J. Good (born 1959 or 1960) is an American business executive who served as the chair, president, and chief executive officer of Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. She assumed the role of CEO on July 1, 2013, becoming one of the few women to lead a major American utility company, and held the position for nearly twelve years before announcing her retirement in 2025. A native of Ohio and a graduate of Miami University, Good built a career spanning accounting, finance, and corporate leadership before rising to lead one of Charlotte, North Carolina's most prominent corporations. Her tenure at Duke Energy coincided with a period of significant transformation in the American energy sector, as the company navigated the transition from fossil fuels toward cleaner energy sources. In 2023, Good was ranked 65th on the Forbes list of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women" and 31st on Fortunes list of Most Powerful Women. Following her retirement from Duke Energy, Good was elected to the board of directors of Morgan Stanley and Boeing, and received recognition including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from the Governor of North Carolina and the 2025 Citizen of the Carolinas award.

Early Life

Lynn J. Good was born in 1959 or 1960 and grew up in Ohio. Details of her family background and childhood have not been extensively documented in public sources. Good has maintained a relatively private personal history, with most publicly available biographical information focusing on her professional career and educational accomplishments. As an Ohio native, she pursued her higher education in-state at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she studied in the fields of systems analysis and accounting.

Education

Good attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Analysis and Accounting in 1981. She has remained connected to the university throughout her career. In March 2025, Good returned to Miami University's College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) as an alumna speaker, participating in a conversation with fellow alumnus Rob Davis, CEO of Merck, at a college event where they spoke to students about their careers and leadership experiences. Her educational background in both systems analysis and accounting provided a foundation for her subsequent career in financial services and corporate management.

Career

Early Career in Accounting and Finance

Before joining Duke Energy, Good developed her professional career in accounting and financial management. Her background in systems analysis and accounting from Miami University led her into the corporate finance and auditing fields. According to Bloomberg, Good accumulated extensive experience in financial leadership roles prior to her appointment at Duke Energy. Her career trajectory included work in the energy sector, where she developed expertise that would later inform her leadership of one of the nation's largest utility companies.

Duke Energy

Appointment as CEO

On June 18, 2013, Duke Energy announced that Lynn Good had been named as the company's new chief executive officer, effective July 1, 2013. Her appointment came during a period of leadership transition at Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States, serving customers across multiple states in the Southeast and Midwest. Good took on the roles of president and CEO, and subsequently also assumed the position of chair of the board.

A November 2014 profile in Fortune examined Good's early tenure at the helm of Duke Energy, posing the question of whether she was "the smartest new CEO in the energy industry." The article examined her strategic approach to leading the company through a changing energy landscape. Good's leadership style and strategic direction at Duke Energy drew attention from business media outlets as she established herself in the role.

Tenure and Strategic Direction

During her nearly twelve-year tenure as CEO, Good oversaw significant developments at Duke Energy. The company navigated an evolving regulatory environment, changing energy markets, and a growing emphasis on the transition toward cleaner energy sources. Good expressed interest in technologies such as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) as part of the company's approach to reducing carbon emissions. In public statements, she indicated that Duke Energy viewed carbon sequestration as a technology "worth pursuing" as part of broader efforts to address climate change while maintaining reliable energy production.

Good's compensation as CEO of Duke Energy was a subject of public reporting. In 2019, the Charlotte Business Journal reported on a significant drop in the CEO's compensation package. By 2024, however, her compensation had risen significantly; according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Good received a compensation package of nearly $21.3 million for that year.

Business Leadership and Industry Involvement

Beyond her role at Duke Energy, Good took on leadership positions in broader business organizations. In January 2023, she was reported to have joined the board of the Business Roundtable, a prominent association of chief executive officers of leading American companies that advocates for public policy positions. Her involvement with the Business Roundtable placed her among an influential group of corporate leaders engaged in discussions about economic policy, workforce development, and regulatory matters affecting American businesses.

Impact on Charlotte and the Carolinas

Good's tenure at Duke Energy had a notable impact on the Charlotte, North Carolina, business community, where Duke Energy is headquartered. A March 2025 article in the Charlotte Business Journal described her nearly twelve-year run as CEO as having made her "one of Charlotte's most impactful business figures of the 21st century." The article examined how Good had reshaped Duke Energy during her time as CEO, contributing to the company's evolution and its role in the regional economy.

Retirement

Good announced her plan to retire from Duke Energy, with the transition expected to take effect in 2025. Her retirement marked the end of one of the longest CEO tenures among major American utility companies during that period. The Charlotte Business Journal profiled her legacy in a series of articles leading up to her departure, noting the scale of transformation the company had undergone during her leadership.

Post-Duke Energy Career

Board Appointments

Following her retirement from Duke Energy, Good transitioned into corporate board service. She had previously served on the board of directors of Boeing, one of the world's largest aerospace companies.

On June 16, 2025, Morgan Stanley announced that Good had been elected to the company's board of directors, effective July 18, 2025. The appointment to the board of one of the world's leading financial services firms reflected her standing as a corporate leader with experience in overseeing large, complex organizations. The announcement was also reported by citybiz and other business media outlets.

Personal Life

Good is married to Brian Good. The couple's personal life has remained largely out of public view, consistent with Good's approach of maintaining a separation between her professional and private roles. Good has been based in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area during her tenure at Duke Energy, where the company is headquartered. She has maintained ties to her home state of Ohio, returning to Miami University for speaking engagements and alumni events, including a March 2025 appearance at the College of Engineering and Computing.

Recognition

Good has received numerous forms of recognition over the course of her career, particularly during and after her tenure as CEO of Duke Energy.

Rankings and Lists

In 2023, Good was ranked 65th on the Forbes list of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women," a ranking that assesses the influence, impact, and reach of women in business, politics, media, and other fields globally. That same year, she was ranked 31st on Fortune's annual list of Most Powerful Women, which focuses on women in the business world. These rankings reflected her position as one of the most prominent female executives in the American energy sector.

Awards and Honors

In June 2025, Good was named the 2025 Citizen of the Carolinas by the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance (CLT Alliance), an honor recognizing her contributions to the Charlotte region and the broader Carolinas during her career.

On June 30, 2025, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein inducted Good into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the highest civilian honors bestowed by the Governor of North Carolina. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities. Good was among ten North Carolinians honored at the ceremony.

Media Coverage

Good's career has been the subject of extensive media coverage. Fortune profiled her early in her CEO tenure in a 2014 article examining her leadership approach and strategic vision for Duke Energy. The Charlotte Business Journal recognized her as part of its coverage of women in business, profiling her contributions to the Charlotte business community and the transformation of Duke Energy during her leadership.

Legacy

Lynn Good's nearly twelve-year tenure as CEO of Duke Energy established her as one of the most prominent leaders in the American utility industry during a period of significant transition. As one of the few women to lead a major American energy company, her career has been noted in the context of women's advancement in corporate leadership, particularly in traditionally male-dominated industries such as energy and utilities.

The Charlotte Business Journal described Good as having "built a different Duke Energy," highlighting the ways in which the company evolved during her time as CEO. Her leadership spanned a critical period in the energy industry, as companies faced increasing pressure to address carbon emissions, invest in renewable energy, and modernize aging infrastructure while maintaining reliability and affordability for customers.

Good's post-retirement board appointments at Boeing and Morgan Stanley suggest a continued role in American corporate governance. Her election to the Morgan Stanley board in 2025 placed her in a position to contribute her experience in overseeing a major regulated utility to the governance of a leading financial institution.

Her recognition as the 2025 Citizen of the Carolinas and her induction into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine reflected the assessment by civic and governmental leaders in the Carolinas that her contributions extended beyond Duke Energy to the broader community and region. Her ongoing connection to Miami University, where she has returned to speak with students about leadership and career development, has continued her engagement with the next generation of engineers and business leaders.