Bryant Kinney

Bryant Kinney is a Senior Counselor with the Hawthorn Group and has 35 years of experience in industry public and government affairs, media relations, crisis communications and philanthropic strategy.

Bryant retired from Duke Energy Corporation following a career that spanned more than two decades, most recently with him serving as vice president of regulatory and government affairs for the company’s Carolinas operations. During his career he also provided executive leadership for external and internal communications, community acceptance, media relations, public policy, philanthropy and crisis communications functions for nuclear power, gas pipeline, energy delivery, corporate communications and other key company-regulated and commercial operations.

As vice president for Duke Energy’s energy services group, Bryant oversaw public affairs for the development of commercial energy projects in 20 states and Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. He developed programs to establish the company’s presence and brand in new regions of the U.S. and internationally. He fostered positive relationships with national and international media, local communities and employees, and achieved public acceptance for company’s multi-billion dollar domestic and international developments. He managed crisis communications response to operational, managerial and financial events impacting the company.

Bryant formerly served as manager, power generation communications for the Tennessee Valley Authority, responsible for all public and media relations and crisis communications for the federal power agency’s nuclear, fossil and hydro-electric generating facilities. Before joining the energy industry, he served as director of emergency management services for Cherokee County, N.C., and an emergency response planner for the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management.

Bryant graduated from Western Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science degree where he currently serves as chairman of the board of trustees. He has served on numerous community and regional boards including as chairman of the board for the North Carolina Independent College Fund and as treasurer and a member of the board for Leadership North Carolina.