ATLANTA, June 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company (NYSE: SO) Chief Financial Officer Art P. Beattie announced today that Glen A. Kundert, vice president, investor relations, will retire after 35 years with the company and that Daniel S. Tucker is being named director of investor relations and financial planning, effective July 1.

Tucker, currently manager, financial planning, for Southern Company, will remain investor relations director until Kundert retires at the end of December.   Tucker will then assume the title of vice president, investor relations and financial planning, effective Jan. 1.

Tucker and Kundert will work together over the next several months to effect a smooth transition of responsibility. Tucker's new duties will include ensuring continued alignment between the development and communication of the company's financial plan and its external investor strategy.

"Glen has provided outstanding leadership for our company's investor relations function, which has been recognized by the investment community as being among the best in the nation," said Thomas A. Fanning, Southern Company chairman, president and CEO. "Dan will continue that tradition and work to further expand the organization's scope and reach. This is just one more example of the outstanding bench strength for which Southern Company has become so well known."

"Dan's strategic focus and attention to detail will serve him well in his new role," said Beattie. "With his in-depth knowledge of the company's financial structure and business drivers, he is uniquely qualified to lead this organization and oversee the communication of Southern Company's story to its shareholders."

Tucker joined Southern Company in 1998 as an accountant in the financial reporting organization. Since 2002, he has served as manager of financial planning, with responsibility for the development and communication of the company's financial plan.  He holds a bachelor's of business administration from Kennesaw State University with a dual major in finance and accounting, and is certified as a CPA in the state of Georgia.

Kundert joined Southern Company in 1976 as a public relations assistant. He has served in various management roles in corporate communication and governmental affairs, at one time or another representing Southern Company in 13 countries on three continents. Kundert has led the company's investor relations function since 1999.  

With 4.4 million customers and more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast. A leading U.S. producer of electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company was named the World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility by Fortune magazine in 2011, and is consistently listed among the top U.S. electric service providers in customer satisfaction by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

SOURCE Southern Company