David Ratcliffe, president and chief executive officer of Georgia Power, today announced the election of Bertram Sears as the company’s senior vice president of marketing, effective May 1, 2001. Leonard Haynes, who previously held that position, has been elected to executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Southern Company, Georgia Power’s parent company.

“Bertram Sears possesses the leadership, strategic thinking, teamwork, and personal integrity to lead our company’s critical marketing function,” said Ratcliffe. “And by promoting Leonard Haynes to Southern Company, we continue to help structure the next generation of leaders at the parent company. Leonard’s excellent marketing skills and customer background will enable Southern Company to maintain its high levels of quality customer service and satisfaction.”

Sears, 36, most recently served as president and CEO of Southern Company Energy Solutions, and was responsible for selling and managing energy-related products and services. In the concurrent capacity of vice president of product management, he executed new product rollouts and spearheaded the development and execution of Southern Company’s aggressive Internet and e-business strategy.

Sears also previously served in various capacities at Georgia Power, including executive assistant to the president and CEO and region manager of the Metro Southwest region.

He received his Master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University in 1991 and a Bachelor’s degree in political science from Morehouse College in Atlanta. He joined Southern Company in 1991. He serves on the board of directors of the Boy Scouts of America, Atlanta Area Council and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Leonard Haynes, 50, joined Southern Company in 1977 and served in various duties in the marketing and power delivery departments. He most recently served as senior vice president of marketing prior to being named chief marketing officer of Southern Company.

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, serving customers in 57,000 of the state’s 59,000 square miles. Georgia Power’s rates are more than 15 percent below the national average and its 1.8 million customers are in all but six of Georgia’s 159 counties.