John O. Hudson III, vice president of Alabama Power’s Public Relations department, has taken on the additional responsibility of managing the company’s charitable giving efforts, effective July 1, 2012. Hudson also was elected president of the Alabama Power Foundation and executive director of the Alabama Business Charitable Trust.

“John’s communication and legal experience, coupled with his commitment to community and civic initiatives, make him uniquely qualified to take on these additional responsibilities,” said Alabama Power Executive Vice President for External Affairs Zeke Smith, who will serve as chairman of the Foundation’s 12-member board of directors.

Hudson, an attorney who was named vice president of Public Relations in 2010, will continue to be responsible for overseeing the strategy and operations that provide company communications to Alabama Power’s 1.4 million customers, the news media and the company’s 6,700 employees.

"This appointment ensures that the state’s largest corporate foundation has leadership in place to make Alabama communities stronger," said Alabama Power CEO Charles McCrary. "John Hudson has been a strong leader within the Alabama Power organization and as a board member of the Alabama Power Foundation. I am confident that with this change our charitable giving efforts will continue to focus on improving the quality of life in all the communities we serve.”

Hudson will assume the duties of Charitable Giving from Leigh Perry. Perry has been named senior vice president and general counsel for Southern Company operations and Southern Nuclear.

The Alabama Power Foundation, founded in 1989 with an investment by Alabama Power shareholders, is committed to making Alabama a better place to live. Since its inception, the Alabama Power Foundation has given more than $126 million through more than 20,000 grants and scholarships. The goal of the foundation is to build better communities in Alabama through support of programs and organizations focused on health and human services, arts and culture, the environment and education. For more information about the Alabama Power Foundation, visit alpowercharitablegiving.org.

Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), provides electricity to more than 1.4 million customers across the state.