TORONTO - Ontario's Progressive Conservatives have appointed an interim leader to replace Patrick Brown, who resigned in the face of sexual misconduct allegations.

Vic Fedeli, 61, was selected by the PC caucus during a meeting Friday morning, but it's not immediately clear if he will lead the party in the scheduled June provincial election.

Fedeli is the party's finance critic and represents the northeastern Ontario riding of Nipissing in the provincial legislature.

The Tory caucus erupted in applause as Fedeli's appointment was announced, with members chanting his name as reporters entered the room.

Asked how he was feeling about the appointment, Fedeli said "fabulous".

Brown announced his resignation as party leader early Thursday, hours after emphatically denying what he called "troubling allegations" about his conduct and his character. The allegations, which have not been independently verified by The Canadian Press, were made by two women who spoke to CTV News.

Fedeli has called Brown's alleged actions "deplorable." He also said, however, that he "never saw anything that would have indicated any activity such as that" during the time he spent with Brown.

Fedeli entered politics in 2003 when he was elected mayor of his home town, North Bay, Ont. He served two terms as mayor before running, and winning a seat, for Ontario's PCs in 2011.