Southern Company announces executive management changes

ATLANTA, Nov. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning today announced two changes to the company's executive management team.

Bryan D. Anderson, vice president of governmental affairs for Southern Company, has been elevated to senior vice president of governmental affairs. In this role, Anderson will continue managing Southern Company's Washington, D.C., office and directing the company's political, policy and regulatory activities. His new role takes effect immediately.

"In his more than two decades in Washington, Bryan has earned a reputation as a preeminent voice in the public policy arena and a tireless advocate for customers," said Fanning. "His ability to build broad consensus around real solutions to complex issues serves Southern Company and our customers well."

Christina H. "Christy" Ihrig, currently director of corporate communication for subsidiary Mississippi Power, has been named vice president of corporate communication for Southern Company. In her new role, Ihrig will lead all aspects of external and internal communication strategy for Southern Company. Ihrig will assume her new position Jan. 1.

"Christy has the strategic vision needed to communicate the superior value that Southern Company and its subsidiaries provide to customers and shareholders," said Fanning. "As the industry adapts to new innovations, a changing regulatory environment and evolving customer expectations, Christy has the proven ability to play offense and build on Southern Company's position as an industry leader."

Anderson, 48, joined Southern Company in 2010. Immediately prior to that, he served as The Coca-Cola Company's vice president of government relations and public affairs. In that role, he was the company's primary representative to the White House, Congress, federal agencies, trade associations and major coalitions on U.S. public policy issues. He also oversaw strategic planning, budget development and administration for the company's Washington office. Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company, Anderson served in the law offices of Sumner and Hewes in Atlanta and O'Connor and Hannan in Washington.

Ihrig, 41, joined Southern Company in 1998 and has held leadership roles at Southern Company and subsidiaries Mississippi Power, Georgia Power and Southern Company Energy Marketing in media relations, executive and investor communications, external affairs and issues management. Ihrig previously worked in communication roles for Sempra Energy and its regulated utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Company, as well as Sharp HealthCare. She began her career at Emory Healthcare.

With more than 4.4 million customers and nearly 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company SO is the premier energy company serving the Southeast through its subsidiaries. A leading U.S. producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable 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 energy innovation, excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company and its subsidiaries are leading the nation's nuclear renaissance through the construction of the first new nuclear units to be built in a generation of Americans and are demonstrating their commitment to energy innovation through the development of a state-of-the-art coal gasification plant. Southern Company has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, listed by DiversityInc as a top company for Blacks and designated a 2013 Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company received the Edison Award from the Edison Electric Institute for its leadership in new nuclear development, was named Electric Light & Power magazine's Utility of the Year for 2012 and is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

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SOURCE Southern Company