ATLANTA, Nov. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern
Company today announced a key addition to its executive leadership
team, effective December 1.
Sterling A. Spainhour, Jr., has
been named senior vice president and general counsel of Southern
Company Services. Spainhour joins Southern Company from
Jones Day, where he has served as
partner at the international law firm's Atlanta office since 2004. There, he worked on
several Southern Company projects, including the company's
acquisition of Southern Company Gas, the acquisition of a 50
percent equity interest in the Southern Natural Gas (SNG) pipeline
system, and the acquisition of PowerSecure International.
Spainhour will lead the legal organization of Southern Company
Services – the shared services company that supports Southern
Company's operating company subsidiaries. He will be responsible
for the day-to-day legal support of the administrative and
operational clients at SCS and will work closely with the other
general counsels across the system to help support the operating
companies.
"Many of us at Southern Company have had the opportunity to work
closely with Sterling, and know him to possess excellent legal
skills, impeccable judgment and values consistent with our own,"
said Jim Kerr, Southern Company's
executive vice president, general counsel and chief compliance
officer. "Our company has expanded the breadth and complexity
of its business in the past year with key acquisitions and
partnerships that position us to be a global leader in the energy
industry. Sterling will add expertise, experience and judgment to
our legal team as we continue to help our clients grow the business
and add value to our customers."
While at Jones Day, Spainhour served as administrative
partner of the Atlanta office for
a number of years, and his substantive expertise was as a mergers
and acquisitions attorney to both public and private
companies. He has deep transactional experience in a variety
of industries including energy, consumer products, chemicals and
business services. He also advised boards of directors on
corporate governance and director liability
matters.
Spainhour previously served as counsel for CNN, where he was
responsible for advising the cable news network's internet
divisions on a full range of legal matters. He is also heavily
involved in the community and currently is an advisory board member
of the Trust for Public Land and previously served on the board of
directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta and as
co-President of Trinity School's
Parent Association. Sterling is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the
Duke University School of Law and
Fuqua School of Business.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is America's premier energy company,
with 44,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion
cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput
volume serving 9 million electric and gas utility customers through
its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and
affordable energy through electric utilities in four states,
natural gas distribution utilities in seven states, a competitive
generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a
nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as
well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company
brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability
and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through
an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and
its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by
developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including
carbon-free nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas,
renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and
services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has
been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer,
recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by
DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40
Best Companies for Diversity and designated a Top Employer for
Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company has earned a National
Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic
Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear
development 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