“Southern Company has been a leading U.S. utility for over a century. The Board of Directors is engaged in overseeing business strategies to help ensure the company’s foundation remains strong well into the future. Our diverse Board has a wide array of experience and competencies that help ensure we, along with management, are effectively managing risks and opportunities in an evolving energy landscape. Southern Company is focused on transitioning to low- and zero-carbon resources while respecting and listening to our stakeholders. None of this can be accomplished without the tremendously talented workforce employed by Southern Company. The Southern Company Board of Directors is fully committed to the success of employees, customers, stockholders and communities.”
David J. Grain
Lead Independent Director
Southern Company
Southern Company’s independent directors provide substantive oversight on strategy and risk issues across the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) spectrum. The full Board discusses key ESG topics as part of its regular agenda, including fleet transition and human capital management. Committees take a deeper dive into ESG risks and opportunities and report out to full Board on key issues. The ESG topics for which each individual committee is responsible are shown in the graphic below.
Meet some of Southern Company’s Board of Directors
Watch Southern Company EVP, chief legal officer and chief compliance officer Jim Kerr’s overview of how the Board functions, along with video profiles of board members Dr. Janaki Akella, Bill Smith and Tony Earley. Learn more about these Board members, their personal backgrounds, their service on the Board and their thoughts concerning a variety of timely energy-related topics.
Jim Kerr
James Y. Kerr II
Executive vice president, chief legal officer and chief compliance officer, Southern Company
An excellent video overview of how the Southern Company Board of Directors provides oversight to the enterprise.
Dr. Janaki Akella
Digital transformation leader, Google LLC
Board committees: Business Security and Resiliency, Compensation and Talent Development
Dr. Akella speaks to disruption and how technology will impact the future of energy.
Janaki Akella
Tony Earley
Anthony F. “Tony” Earley, Jr.
Chairman, president and CEO, PG&E Corporation (retired)
Board committees: Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility (chair); Operations, Environmental and Safety
This video covers a variety of topics, including nuclear energy, climate change and Southern Company’s goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
William G. “Bill” Smith, Jr.
Chairman of the board, president and CEO of Capital City Bank Group, Inc.
Board committee: Audit (chair)
Learn about the importance of the audit committee and other financial controls.
Bill Smith
Thoughtful Board Oversight of Key ESG Risks and Opportunities
Full Board regularly discusses key ESG topics as part of its regular agenda, including fleet transition and human capital management.
Committees take a deeper dive into ESG risks and opportunities and report out to full Board.
Topics
We seek to establish corporate governance standards and practices that create long-term value for our stockholders and positive influences on the governance of the Company. Core to effective governance is regular investor and stakeholder engagement and a commitment to transparency.
