Portrait

Christopher C. Womack, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

Director Highlights

Mr. Womack’s qualifications include operating company CEO experience, power delivery experience and human resources experience. His extensive knowledge of the Company, its customers and communities based on 35 years of service, as well as his external affairs and government policy expertise, are valuable to the Board.

Age: 65

Director since: 2023

Board committees: None

Other public company directorships: Essential Utilities, Inc. and Invesco Ltd.

  • Mr. Womack was named President, effective March 31, 2023, and has been appointed Chief Executive Officer effective immediately following the annual meeting. He has held numerous leadership positions across the Southern Company system, most recently serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Georgia Power since June 2021 and President of Georgia Power since November 2020. Prior to that, Mr. Womack served as Executive Vice President and President of External Affairs of the Company from January 2009 to October 2020. Mr. Womack joined Southern Company in 1988 and has served as executive vice president of external affairs at Georgia Power and senior vice president and senior production officer of Southern Company Generation, where he was responsible for coal, gas, and hydro generation for Georgia Power and Savannah Electric, a subsidiary of Southern Company that merged into Georgia Power in 2006. Mr. Womack also served as senior vice president of human resources and chief people officer at Southern Company, as well as senior vice president of public relations and corporate services at Alabama Power.
  • Prior to joining Southern Company, Mr. Womack worked on Capitol Hill for the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington D.C. He served as a legislative aide for former Congressman Leon E. Panetta and as staff director for the Subcommittee on Personnel and Police for the Committee on House Administration.
  • Mr. Womack is a Director of Essential Utilities, Inc., where he serves on the Corporate Governance Committee and the Risk Mitigation and Investment Policy Committee, and a Director of Invesco Ltd., where he serves on the Audit Committee, the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee. Mr. Womack is not standing for re-election to the Board of Essential Utilities, Inc. and his term will end on May 3, 2023.
  • Mr. Womack also serves on the Board of Georgia Ports Authority. He is past chair of the Board of the East Lake Foundation and is on the national Board of The First Tee. Mr. Womack previously chaired the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau Board and the Atlanta Sports Council.
Portrait

Janaki Akella, Former Digital Transformation Leader, Google LLC

Director Highlights

Dr. Akella’s qualifications include electrical engineering experience and knowledge, global business technology, data and analytics expertise and cybersecurity matters knowledge. Her understanding and involvement with technology market disruptions is particularly valuable to the Board as the Southern Company system continues to develop innovative business strategies.

Age: 62

Director since: 2019

Board committees: Business Security and Resiliency (Chair); Audit;

Other public company directorships: None

  • Dr. Akella served as the Digital Transformation Leader of Google LLC, a multinational technology company specializing in internet-related products, from 2017 until March 2023. At Google, Dr. Akella addressed challenges and complex technical issues arising from new technologies and new business models.
  • Prior to joining Google, Dr. Akella held a number of leadership positions during a 17-year career at McKinsey & Company, where she most recently served as principal. She led and contributed to over 100 consulting engagements in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America with multiple project teams and client executives. She began her career with Hewlett-Packard as a member of the system technology technical staff, engineer scientist and technical contributor.
  • She previously served on the Boards of the Guindy College of Engineering North American Alumni and the Churchill Club.
Portrait

Henry A. “Hal” Clark III, Senior Advisor of Evercore Inc. (retired)

Director Highlights

Mr. Clark’s qualifications include finance and capital allocation knowledge and experience, risk management experience, mergers and acquisitions experience and investment advisory experience specific to the power and utilities industries. The skills Mr. Clark developed with his extensive involvement in strategic mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions are particularly valuable to the Board as the Southern Company system continues to finance major capital projects.

Age: 73

Director since: 2009

Board committee: Audit; Finance

Other public company directorships: None

  • Mr. Clark was a Senior Advisor with Evercore Inc. (formerly Evercore Partners Inc.), a global independent investment advisory firm, from August 2011 until his retirement in December 2016. As a Senior Advisor, Mr. Clark was primarily focused on expanding advisory activities in North America with a particular focus on the power and utilities sectors.
  • With more than 40 years of experience in the global financial and the utility industries, Mr. Clark brings a wealth of experience in finance and risk management to his role as a Director.
  • Prior to joining Evercore, Mr. Clark was Group Chairman of Global Power and Utilities at Citigroup, Inc. from 2001 to 2009. He joined Lexicon Partners, LLC in July 2009, which Evercore Partners subsequently acquired in August 2011.
  • His work experience includes numerous capital markets transactions of debt, equity, bank loans, convertible securities and securitization, as well as advice in connection with mergers and acquisitions. He also has served as policy advisor to numerous clients on capital structure, cost of capital, dividend strategies and various financing strategies.
  • He has served as Chair of the Wall Street Advisory Group of the Edison Electric Institute.
Portrait

Shantella E Cooper, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Journey Forward Strategies, LLC

Director Highlights

Ms. Cooper’s qualifications include more than 30 years of talent development and executive leadership experience working with Fortune 500 corporations, private companies and the non-profit sector. Ms. Cooper’s expertise in developing sustainable people-focused business strategy will be of value to the Board.

Age: 55

Director since: 2023

Board committee: Business Security and Resiliency; Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility

Other public company directorships: Veritiv Corporation, Intercontinental Exchange, and Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc.

  • Ms. Cooper is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Journey Forward Strategies, a solutions-focused consulting firm specializing in leadership development and organization effectiveness.
  • With over 30 years of diverse experience and expertise, Ms. Cooper delivers sustainable results for her clients, while exceling in the areas of executive coaching, talent development, organization cultural assessments, DEI strategies, as well as business process design and technology transformation.
  • Ms. Cooper is the former Executive Director for the Atlanta Committee for Progress (ACP), founded in 2003 to serve as the Mayor of Atlanta’s external advisory board focused on economic growth and inclusion. She has also held executive leadership positions at WestRock, and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Corporation.
  • Ms. Cooper currently serves on the corporate Board of Directors for Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc., Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., Grady Health System, and Veritiv Corporation. In addition, she serves on the Board of Trustees for Emory University, as well as several other Atlanta-area boards supporting workforce development.
  • Ms. Cooper has been recognized for her expertise in workforce and leadership development by numerous publications. She was awarded the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2021 Women of Influence Lifetime Achievement Award; named Georgia Trend Magazine’s 2015 Most Respected Business Leader; the 2015 Woman of the Year by American Association of University Women; and as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Georgians seven times.
Portrait

Anthony F. “Tony” Earley, Jr., Lead Independent Director
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, PG&E Corporation (retired)

Director Highlights

Mr. Earley’s qualifications include public company CEO experience and energy industry expertise including nuclear regulation, generation and technology, as well as cybersecurity matters, environmental matters and major capital projects. His experience as the president and chief executive officer of energy companies and his involvement in electric industry-wide research and development programs are valuable to the Board.

Age: 73

Director since: 2019

Board committee: Operations, Environmental and Safety

Other public company directorships: None

  • Mr. Earley served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of PG&E Corporation, a public utility holding company providing natural gas and electric services, from 2011 until February 2017, when he became Executive Chairman. He served as Executive Chairman until his retirement from PG&E in December 2017. On January 29, 2019, PG&E Corporation and its subsidiary Pacific Gas and Electric Company filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code as a result of wildfire claims in California.
  • Before joining PG&E, Mr. Earley served in several executive leadership roles during his 17 years at DTE Energy, including Executive Chairman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining DTE Energy in March 1994, he served in various capacities at Long Island Lighting Company, including President and Chief Operating Officer. He was a partner at the Hunton & Williams LLP law firm as a member of the energy and environmental team. He also served as an officer in the U.S. Navy nuclear submarine program where he was qualified as a chief engineer. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Ford Motor Company, DTE Energy, PG&E Corporation, Comerica Incorporated, Masco Corporation and Long Island Lighting Company.
  • He previously served on the executive committees of the Edison Electric Institute and the Nuclear Energy Institute and served on the Board of the Electric Power Research Institute.
Portrait

David J. Grain, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Grain Management, LLC (Grain Management)

Director Highlights

Mr. Grain’s qualifications include capital allocation expertise, financial expertise, major capital projects knowledge and experience, technology innovations knowledge and experience and risk management experience. Mr. Grain’s knowledge and involvement managing large and small businesses and raising and managing investor capital, particularly in a regulated industry, is also valuable to the Board.

Age: 60

Director since: 2012

Board committee:Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility (Chair); Compensation and Talent Development;

Other public company directorships: Dell Technologies and New Fortress Energy Inc.

  • Mr. Grain is the Chief Executive Officer of Grain Management, a private equity firm focused on global investments in the media and communications sectors, which he founded in 2006. With headquarters in Washington, D.C. and offices in New York City, New York, Sarasota, Florida and London, England, the firm manages capital for a number of the country’s leading academic endowments, public pension funds and foundations.
  • Mr. Grain also founded and was Chief Executive Officer of Grain Communications Group, Inc.
  • Prior to founding Grain Management, he served as President of Global Signal, Inc., Senior Vice President of AT&T Broadband’s New England Region and Executive Director in the High Yield Finance Department at Morgan Stanley.
  • Mr. Grain was appointed by President Obama in 2011 to the National Infrastructure Advisory Council.
  • He previously served as Chairman of the Florida State Board of Administration Investment Advisory Council as an appointee of former Governor Charlie Crist, where he provided independent oversight of the state board’s funds and major investment responsibilities, including investments for the Florida Retirement System programs.
  • Mr. Grain is a Director of Dell Technologies and New Fortress Energy Inc. Previously, he was a director of Catalyst Partners Acquisition Corporation (a special purpose acquisition corporation).
  • He is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College, serves on the Investment Committee of the United States Tennis Association and is a Trustee of the Brookings Institution.
Portrait

Donald M. James, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Vulcan Materials Company (retired)

Director Highlights

Mr. James’ qualifications include public company CEO experience, a legal background as a former public company general counsel and an understanding of corporate governance, risk management, major capital projects and environmental matters. Mr. James brings important perspectives on management, operations and strategy from his experience as the former chief executive officer of a public company.

Age: 74

Director since: 1999

Board committee: Audit; Compensation and Talent Development; Finance

Other public company directorships: None

  • Mr. James joined Vulcan Materials Company, a producer of aggregate and aggregate-based construction materials, in 1992 as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. He next became President of the Southern Division, followed by Senior Vice President of the Construction Materials Group, and then President and Chief Operating Officer. In 1997, he was elected Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. James retired from his position as Chief Executive Officer of Vulcan Materials Company in July 2014 and Executive Chairman in January 2015. He retired in December 2015 as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vulcan Materials Company.
  • Prior to joining Vulcan Materials Company, Mr. James was a partner at the law firm of Bradley, Arant, Rose & White for 10 years.
  • Mr. James serves on the Finance, the Governance and Nominating (Chair) and the Human Resources Committees of Wells Fargo & Company’s Board of Directors. He is a former director of SouthTrust Corporation and Wachovia Corporation.
  • Mr. James is a Trustee of Children’s of Alabama, where he serves on the Executive Committee and the Compensation Committee.
Portrait

John D. Johns, Senior Advisor at Blackstone Inc. (Blackstone) and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Protective Life Corporation (Protective Life)

Director Highlights

Mr. Johns’ qualifications include public company CEO experience, financial expertise, capital allocation experience and risk management experience in a highly-regulated industry. His legal background as the former general counsel of a large energy public holding company that included natural gas operations and his prior service for over a decade on the Board of Directors of Alabama Power are also of significant value to the Board.

Age: 71

Director since: 2015

Board committee: Finance (Chair); Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility;

Other public company directorships: Genuine Parts Company

  • Mr. Johns has served as a Senior Advisor at Blackstone, an investment firm, since April 2022.
  • He retired in 2020 as Chairman, DLI North America Inc., the oversight company for Protective Life, a provider of financial services through insurance and investment products.
  • He served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Protective Life from 2002 to 2017 and President from 2002 to January 2016. He joined Protective Life in 1993 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
  • Before his tenure at Protective Life, Mr. Johns served as general counsel of Sonat, Inc., a diversified energy company.
  • Prior to joining Sonat, Inc., Mr. Johns was a founding partner of the law firm Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C.
  • He previously served on the Board of Directors of Alabama Power from 2004 to 2015. During his tenure on the Alabama Power Board, he was a member of the Nominating and Executive Committees.
  • Mr. Johns has served on the Executive Committee of the Financial Services Roundtable in Washington, D.C. and is a past chairman of the American Council of Life Insurers.
  • Mr. Johns has served as the Chairman of the Business Council of Alabama, the Birmingham Business Alliance, the Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America and Innovation Depot, Alabama’s leading business and technology incubator.
Portrait

Dale E. Klein, Professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin and holder of the Reese Endowed Professorship; former Commissioner and Chairman, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Director Highlights

Dr. Klein’s qualifications include expertise in nuclear energy research, regulation, safety and technology, as well as experience in environmental matters and governmental affairs. His senior leadership skills demonstrated as the Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission are also important to the Board.

Age: 74

Director since: 2010

Board committee: Compensation and Talent Development; Operations, Environmental and Safety (Chair); Business Security and Resiliency

Other public company directorships: Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and Arizona Public Service Company

  • Dr. Klein was Commissioner from 2006 to 2010 and Chairman from 2006 through 2009 of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the federal agency responsible for regulation of nuclear reactor materials and safety. He also served as Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs from 2001 through 2006.
  • Dr. Klein has more than 40 years of experience in the nuclear energy industry.
  • Dr. Klein began his career at the University of Texas in 1977 as a professor of mechanical engineering, which included a focus on the university’s nuclear program. He spent 33 years in various teaching and leadership positions, including Director of the nuclear engineering teaching laboratory, Associate Dean for research and administration in the College of Engineering and Vice Chancellor for special engineering programs.
  • He serves on the Audit and Nuclear and Operating Committees of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, an Arizona energy company, and is a member of the Board of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation’s principal subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company.
Portrait

David E. Meador, Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer of DTE Energy (retired)

Director Highlights

Mr. Meador’s qualifications include public energy company experience and expertise in the energy sector, including financial, information technology, manufacturing, procurement, and corporate and public affairs. Mr. Meador’s extensive involvement in economic and workforce development, corporate culture and government and community relations are all of value to the Board.

Age: 66

Director since: 2023

Board committees: Audit; Operations, Environmental, and Safety

Other public company directorships: None

  • Mr. Meador served as Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer of DTE Energy, a diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services, from 2014 until March 2022. In his 25 years at DTE Energy, he served in several executive leadership positions, including Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
  • With over 40 years of experience in the manufacturing and energy sectors, Mr. Meador is a recognized expert in finance and accounting, business strategy, governance, ESG, mergers and acquisitions, government and community relations, procurement and information technology.
  • Prior to joining DTE Energy, he served in a variety of financial and accounting positions at Chrysler Corporation for 14 years and was an auditor with Coopers & Lybrand.
  • Mr. Meador currently serves on the Board of Directors of Amerisure Mutual Insurance and Energy Insurance Mutual and is a former director of Landauer, Inc. He also serves on several non-profit boards supporting workforce and economic development, human services and education.
Portrait

William G. Smith, Jr., Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Capital City Bank Group, Inc.

Director Highlights

Mr. Smith’s qualifications include public company CEO experience, finance and capital allocation expertise, risk management expertise and audit and financial reporting experience. Mr. Smith contributes valuable perspectives on management, operations and regulatory compliance from his experience as the chief executive officer of a public company in a highly-regulated industry.

Age: 69

Director since: 2006

Lead Independent Director: 2012-2014

Board committee: Audit (Chair)

Other public company directorships: Capital City Bank Group, Inc.

  • Mr. Smith began his career at Capital City Bank in 1978, where he worked in a number of positions of increasing responsibility before being elected President and Chief Executive Officer of Capital City Bank Group, Inc. in January 1989. He was elected Chairman of the Board of the Capital City Bank Group, Inc. in 2003. He is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capital City Bank.
  • He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
  • Mr. Smith is the former Federal Advisory Council Representative for the Sixth District of the Federal Reserve System and past Chair of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and the Tallahassee Area Chamber of Commerce.
Portrait

Kristine L. Svinicki, Adjunct Professor, University of Michigan and former Commissioner and Chairman, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Director Highlights

Ms. Svinicki’s qualifications include nuclear energy and technology expertise and federal and state energy policy expertise. As a former Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, she has vast experience and insight into nuclear regulation and generation, as well as environmental and cybersecurity matters. Ms. Svinicki’s leadership skills, contributions to U.S. nuclear energy policies and extensive nuclear energy knowledge are of significant value to the Board.

Age: 56

Director since: 2021

Board committee: Business Security and Resiliency; Operations, Environmental and Safety

Other public company directorships: Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and Arizona Public Service Company

  • Ms. Svinicki was appointed a member of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the federal agency responsible for regulation of nuclear reactor materials and safety, by three U.S. Presidents, becoming that organization’s longest-serving member. She served as a Commissioner from 2008 until 2017 and then served as Chairman from 2017 to 2021.
  • Prior to her tenure on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Ms. Svinicki spent over a decade as a staff member in the U.S. Senate working on issues related to national security, science and technology, and energy and the environment. She also served as a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee where she was responsible for the committee’s portfolio of defense science and technology programs and policies, and for the atomic energy defense activities of the U.S. Department of Energy, including nuclear weapons, nuclear security and environmental programs.
  • Previously, Ms. Svinicki served as a nuclear engineer in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Washington, D.C. offices of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, and of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, as well as its Idaho Operations Office, in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
  • Ms. Svinicki serves on the Audit and Nuclear and Operating Committees of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, an Arizona energy company, and is a member of the Board of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation's principal subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company.
  • Ms. Svinicki is a longstanding member of the American Nuclear Society and serves on the Board of TerraPower LLC, a nuclear innovation company.
  • Ms. Svinicki currently serves as an adjunct professor of nuclear engineering and radiological sciences at the University of Michigan. She also serves on the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s committee to address specific issues related to nuclear terrorism threats.
Portrait

Lizanne Thomas, Partner, Jones Day (retired)

Director Highlights

Ms. Thomas’ qualifications include mergers and public and private acquisitions expertise as well as corporate governance and shareholder activism experience. Her legal background and extensive governance work with publicly traded companies across a wide spectrum of industries are all of value to the Board.

Age: 65

Director since: 2023

Board committees: Compensation and Talent Development (Chair); Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility; Finance

Other public company directorships: American Software, Inc.

  • Ms. Thomas retired at the end of 2023 as the Partner and Chair of the Governance and Activism practice of the global law firm Jones Day after 41 years of service. In addition to leading the firm’s corporate governance and activism practice, she has substantial experience in public company mergers and acquisitions, having led many of the firm’s multi-billion dollar transactions. Ms. Thomas served in various senior management roles at Jones Day, including most recently as Partner-in-Charge of the firm’s Southeast U.S. Region from 2014 through 2022.
  • Ms. Thomas currently serves on the Board of American Software, Inc., where she chairs the Governance Committee and also serves on the Audit and Compensation Committees. She previously served on the Boards of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc. and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. In 2016, Ms. Thomas was named one of the top 100 directors by the National Association of Corporate Directors.
  • Ms. Thomas is a Fellow of the American College of Governance Lawyers and is Chair of the Georgia Research Alliance. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of Washington & Lee University, Furman University and the Woodruff Arts Center.

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