Paula J Sims

Paula J. Sims, 45, currently the company's senior vice president for regulated services, will replace E. Michael Williams as senior vice president for power operations, when Williams retires July 1. Williams has led the power operations group since he joined Progress Energy in 2000 after 28 years with Texas-based Central and Southwest Corp. and its subsidiaries. In her new role, Sims will have direct responsibility for the company's fossil-fueled power plants in the Carolinas and Florida, as well as regulated fuels and the regulated wholesale function. Sims has been with CP&L and Progress Energy since 1999 in a variety of positions, including executive roles with unregulated subsidiary Progress Fuels and as vice president for regulated fuels for Progress Energy. She came to CP&L after a 15-year career with GE. She earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering and operations research from Virginia Tech, and master's degrees from Boston University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Both Yates and Sims will report to President and Chief Operating Officer William D. Johnson.