ATLANTA, Nov. 4, 2011 -- Georgia Power President and CEO Paul Bowers today announced that Anthony Wilson was elected executive vice president, customer service and operations (CSO), effective Jan. 1, 2012.

Wilson, 47, currently serves as vice president of transmission. He will replace Mickey Brown who will retire at the end of the year.

In this role, Wilson will lead Georgia Power's customer service function and oversee the construction, design and maintenance of the company's electric system, as well as direct region operations, energy planning & sales, and corporate services.

"Anthony's experience across multiple functions and companies, combined with a proven track record of delivering results, makes him uniquely qualified for this crucial position," said Bowers. "Moreover, he has consistently demonstrated the strong leadership and team-building abilities and strategic focus necessary to maintain CSO's position as an industry leader in customer service and operations while driving continuous improvement in an ever-evolving landscape."

Since joining Southern Company in 1984 at Mississippi Power, Wilson has held numerous leadership positions in many areas of the company. At Mississippi Power, he served as manager of the Meridian division and the Columbia area, assistant to the president, assistant plant manager and region power delivery manager. In 2002, Wilson joined Georgia Power as manager of marketing regulatory affairs before going on to serve as general manager of distribution and vice president of distribution.

Wilson, a native of D'Iberville, Miss., earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University and an MBA from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is also a graduate of the Oxford University Advanced Management Program.  

Wilson serves on the advisory board of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Mississippi State University, where he was selected as a Distinguished Engineering Fellow in 2009. He also serves on the board of directors for the Southeastern Electric Reliability Corp. and the Power Delivery Committee of the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies, and the executive committee for the Southeastern Electric Exchange. In addition, Wilson is a member of the American Cancer Society Executive Leadership Council and a member of the board of directors for 21st Century Leaders.  

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest generators of electricity.  The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates well below the national average.  Georgia Power serves 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.