Gulf Power Company is getting a new president.

Stan Connally, a senior vice president at Georgia Power, will be the company’s 16^th president, succeeding Mark Crosswhite who has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer of Southern Company, Gulf Power’s parent firm.

“Mark and Stan both have a depth of experience throughout our system that has prepared them to assume these new leadership positions,” said Tom Fanning, Southern Company President. “Their experience, along with their passion and insight, will help Gulf Power and Southern Company meet the challenges ahead.”

Connally, who has headed up Georgia Power’s fossil and hydro generation operations since 2010, began his career with Southern Company in 1989 as a co-op student at Georgia Power’s Plant Yates. He has held positions of increasing responsibility in various areas, including Customer Operations, Sales and Marketing, and Power Generation at Georgia Power, Alabama Power, and Mississippi Power. 

“Gulf Power has a reputation in the utility industry of great employees, great customer service and innovative programs,” Connally said. “I look forward to joining the team and my family and I are excited about living in Northwest Florida.”  

A native of Newnan, Ga., Connally graduated in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. He completed the Goizueta Executive Education Program at Emory University in 2004 and the Southern Company Senior Leadership Development Program in 2009. He has served on the boards of the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport and United Way of Jackson/George counties in Mississippi.

In his new role Crosswhite will be responsible for Southern Company’s generation and transmission operations, Southern Power, Southern Wholesale Energy, engineering and construction services, and research and environmental activities. 

The leadership transition will become effective on July 1.

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 431,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely deliver affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible electric service to our customers while working to improve the communities we serve. Visit online at GulfPower.com or on the company’s Facebook page, “Gulf Power Company.”

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