Progress Energy’s McGehee dies in London

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Progress Energy says chairman and chief executive Bob McGehee has died two days after suffering a stroke while on company business in London. He was 64.

McGehee and two other executives from the Raleigh-based electric utility were planning to meet with investors.

Interim board chairman John Mullin the third says McGehee’s contributions to the company were long and outstanding.

McGehee was a U.S. Navy veteran who joined the company in 1997 as senior vice president and general counsel. He took over president and chief operating officer in 2002, and became the
company’s top executive in 2004.

Progress Energy provides power to more than three million customers in the Carolinas and Florida.

Chief operating officer Bill Johnson has taken the chief executive duties.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)