RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Duke Energy Corp.’s surprise CEO said Tuesday that America’s largest electric company dumped Progress Energy Inc. CEO Bill Johnson the same evening it was created in a merger because directors of the two merging corporations worried about Johnson’s authoritarian style and being forced to pump billions into a troubled Florida nuclear plant.

Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers remained CEO after the merger, though the companies had said they planned for Johnson to head the expanded company.