Southern Company Announces Management Changes

ATLANTA -- Southern Company Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President David M. Ratcliffe today announced a number of changes to the company’s executive management team.

“These changes are part of our on-going effort to develop the next generation of Southern Company leaders while continuing to focus on delivering superior service, customer satisfaction and shareholder value,” said Ratcliffe.

The following appointments will be effective Feb. 1:

• W. Paul Bowers will become executive vice president and chief financial officer of Southern Company. Bowers currently serves as president of Southern Company Generation.

• Thomas A. “Tom” Fanning will become chief operating officer of Southern Company. Fanning will have responsibility for Southern Company Generation – which includes non-nuclear generating facilities and environmental affairs – Southern Power and Southern Company Transmission. Fanning will continue to lead Southern Company’s efforts on business strategy and associated planning issues. Fanning currently serves as executive vice president and chief financial officer.

• G. Edison “Ed” Holland will continue in his role as executive vice president and general counsel but will assume additional responsibilities for external affairs.

• C. Alan Martin will become president and CEO of Southern Company Services. In this role, Martin will oversee SouthernLINC Wireless, the company’s wireless communication subsidiary, as well as be responsible for the information technology, procurement, market research, and air transportation functions, along with a soon-to-be combined human resources function. Martin currently serves as executive vice president, customer service organization, Alabama Power.

Effective April 1, all of human resources will be combined under Marsha Johnson, senior vice president of human resources and chief diversity officer, who currently has responsibility for the company’s talent acquisition and diversity functions within HR.

In addition, Ratcliffe announced that Dwight Evans, executive vice president, external affairs; Anthony James, executive vice president and president, shared services; and Robert Bell, senior vice president, human resource services, will each retire effective April 1.

“Dwight, Anthony and Robert have more than 100 years of combined service to Southern Company,” Ratcliffe said. “Over those years, they made many valuable contributions to our company’s success through their leadership, integrity and business acumen.”

With 4.3 million customers and more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast, one of America’s fastest-growing regions. A leading U.S. producer of electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are significantly below the national average. Southern Company has been listed the top ranking U.S. electric service provider in customer satisfaction for eight consecutive years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).