---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000092122-23-000002"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SO"
cik: "0000092122"
company_name: "SOUTHERN CO"
filed_at: "2023-01-05T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-20T20:05:23.515038+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Southern Co. CEO Thomas Fanning to retire; Christopher Womack to succeed as CEO after 2023 annual meeting

## Summary
- Thomas Fanning will retire as President effective March 31, 2023, and as CEO after the 2023 annual meeting.
- Christopher Womack elected President (eff. March 31, 2023) and CEO (eff. after annual meeting); will join Board.
- Stephen Kuczynski resigns as President of Southern Nuclear, effective March 31, but remains Chairman and CEO of that unit.
- Fanning will serve as Executive Chairman following the annual meeting.
- Compensation for new roles not yet determined; will be disclosed via amendment.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000092122-23-000002
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SO
- cik: 0000092122
- company_name: SOUTHERN CO
- filed_at: 2023-01-05T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92122/000009212223000002/0000092122-23-000002-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92122/000009212223000002/so-20230104.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000092122-23-000002
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000092122-23-000002.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000092122-23-000002.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Christopher C. Womack was elected as Director at SOUTHERN CO.
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Director
  source text: elected Christopher C. Womack as (a) President of the Company and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, each effective March 31, 2023, and (b) Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective immediately following the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92122/000009212223000002/0000092122-23-000002-index.htm
- Executive change
  Christopher C. Womack was elected as President at SOUTHERN CO.
  - Action: elected
  - Role: President
  source text: elected Christopher C. Womack as (a) President of the Company and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, each effective March 31, 2023, and (b) Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective immediately following the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92122/000009212223000002/0000092122-23-000002-index.htm
- Executive change
  Thomas A. Fanning retired as President at SOUTHERN CO.
  - Action: retired
  - Role: President
  source text: Thomas A. Fanning, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of The Southern Company (the “Company”), notified the Company of his intention to retire from his positions as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92122/000009212223000002/0000092122-23-000002-index.htm
- Executive change
  Thomas A. Fanning retired as Chief Executive Officer at SOUTHERN CO.
  - Action: retired
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Thomas A. Fanning, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of The Southern Company (the “Company”), notified the Company of his intention to retire from his positions as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92122/000009212223000002/0000092122-23-000002-index.htm
- Executive change
  Stephen E. Kuczynski resigned as President of Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. at SOUTHERN CO.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: President of Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
  source text: Stephen E. Kuczynski resigned, effective March 31, 2023, from his position as President of Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92122/000009212223000002/0000092122-23-000002-index.htm
- Executive change
  Christopher C. Womack was elected as Chief Executive Officer at SOUTHERN CO.
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: elected Christopher C. Womack as (a) President of the Company and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, each effective March 31, 2023, and (b) Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective immediately following the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92122/000009212223000002/0000092122-23-000002-index.htm
- Executive change
  Thomas A. Fanning was appointed as Executive Chairman at SOUTHERN CO.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Executive Chairman
  source text: Mr. Fanning will serve as Executive Chairman of the Company immediately following the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92122/000009212223000002/0000092122-23-000002-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.