Southern Electric International Inc. has named Barney S. Rush to the newly created position of vice president for acquisitions, Southern Electric President Tom Boren announced today.

Rush will direct Southern Electric’s efforts to add to its investments around the world, which currently include electric utility operations in the United States, England, Argentina, Chile, the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago.

Rush, 44, comes to Southern Electric from Oxbow Power Corporation of West Palm Beach, Fla., private developer of geothermal and gas-fired power plants, where he served as executive vice president for development and finance.

Rush also has held several positions at Lehman Brothers, including senior vice president, project finance, for the company’s utility and telecommunications group; vice president, project finance group; and vice president, international advisory group.

He also has served in the U.S. State Department as special assistant to the undersecretary for economic affairs; as an economist for the World Bank; and as a staff assistant and campaign organizer for former U.S. Rep. Richard Vander Veen, D-Mich.

Rush holds a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University and a bachelor’s degree in social theory and economics from Harvard College.

“Barney Rush’s extensive background in the power industry, government, international finance and politics make him a vital addition to Southern Electric’s management team,” Boren said in announcing the appointment.

Southern Electric, a unit of The Southern Company, develops, builds, owns and operates power production and delivery facilities and provides a broad range of technical services to industrial companies and utilities in the U.S. and international markets.

The Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is also the parent firm of five electric utilities: Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power and Savannah Electric. Other subsidiaries include Southern Communications Services, Southern Development and Investment Group, Southern Nuclear and Southern Company Services. Together, these companies make up one of the largest electric utility groups in the United States. The Southern Company’s common stock is one of the 20 most widely held corporate stocks in America.