Alabama Power's new President and COO Charles McCrary today announced three changes in the company's executive team.

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McCrary, in his first business day as president, named Alan Martin executive vice president of the customer service organization. He also announced that Steve Spencer was promoted to executive vice president for external affairs and that Robert Holmes was promoted to senior vice president of ethics and business practices. Holmes also was named chairman of the Alabama Power Foundation.

"All three are veteran leaders in our company, and they all bring much solid, practical experience," McCrary said.

Holmes will retain his responsibilities in ethics and business practices in addition to his new leadership of the foundation, the state's largest foundation.

"Robert Holmes stands for sound leadership and fair treatment," McCrary said. "He is an enthusiastic, respected leader who will help our company and foundation reach out and better serve our employees and communities."

Holmes began work at Alabama Power as a draftsman and worked his way up in the engineering area before being named technical superintendent-fossil. In 1989 he was named assistant to the executive vice president/chief financial officer, and in 1990 was named West Mobile district manager.

He was vice president of human resources before he became vice president of ethics and business practices in 1995.

Holmes, a native of Birmingham, is a graduate of Alabama A&M University, and his engineering degree is from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In addition, he is a graduate of several management programs, including Harvard University's Advanced Management Program.

He and his wife, Carmelia, have two children.

Martin, 52, had been the company's executive vice president of external affairs since April 2000. Now, he will oversee the area of the company that includes power delivery, customer service, marketing and the company's six geographical divisions.

"With this move into the company's largest area, Alan Martin will play a key role as we build on the company's strong reputation for providing reliable power at a reasonable price," McCrary said.

"His colleagues here and at Southern Co. respect Alan as a leader and motivator in the wide range of leadership roles he has played," McCrary said. Martin succeeds Mike Garrett, who last week was named president of Mississippi Power. Both Alabama Power and Mississippi Power are subsidiaries of Southern Co.

Martin joined Alabama Power as a right-of-way agent. He has filled a number of staff and management roles at the company and at Southern Co. including vice president of human resources for Southern Co. At Alabama Power, he has been vice president of marketing and vice president of the company's Birmingham Division.

Also a native of Birmingham, Martin holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Alabama and a master's degree in psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

He and his wife, Cheryl, have two children.

Spencer, 45, has been senior vice president of external relations since last July. He will now oversee not only economic development, governmental relations and community relations, but also public relations, environmental affairs and the regulatory affairs of the company.

"Steve Spencer provides our company with a strong combination of new thinking and practical, proven leadership," said McCrary. "Steve's leadership and influence that brought our parent company great success over the last few years, will help ensure continued success of our company and our state."

Spencer joined Alabama Power in 1978 as a corporate real estate specialist, obtaining rights-of-way. He has taken jobs of increasing responsibility including government affairs director of Southern Nuclear and senior vice president of external affairs for Southern Co. Before that, he was assistant to Southern Co. Chairman and CEO Bill Dahlberg.

Spencer, also a native of Birmingham, graduated from Auburn University in 1978 with a degree in psychology. He is married to the former Lynne Baker, and they have two children.

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SOURCE: Alabama Power