ATLANTA - Dec. 17, 2008 - Southern Company today announced that IDG's Computerworld magazine has selected Marie Mouchet, vice president and CIO of Southern Company Generation, Southern Nuclear and Southern Power, as one of the magazine's Premier 100 IT Leaders for 2009.

"Marie's contributions to Southern Company and the technology industry have been remarkable," said Becky Blalock, Southern Company senior vice president and chief information officer. "She is the kind of exceptional leader you want on your team. Her ideas, energy and dedication benefit not only the customers she serves but also everyone in IT."

Each year Computerworld honors 100 IT executives who have led their organizations by mentoring and motivating employees, envisioning innovative solutions to business challenges and effectively managing and executing IT strategies. Along with other top IT executives from companies across all industries, Mouchet will accept the prestigious award at Computerworld's Premier 100 IT Leaders Conference March 1-3, 2009, in Orlando, Fla.

Computerworld's Premier 100 IT Leaders Conference involves companies across all industries, as well as government and educational organizations. This year's recipients were selected from more than 1,000 nominees, who were measured against Computerworld's IT Leadership Index, a set of characteristics that describes executives who guide the effective use of IT in their organizations, and evaluated by the editors and by a panel of outside judges. The candidates were asked about a range of topics, including their backgrounds, work experiences, special accomplishments and leadership styles.

About Computerworld:

Computerworld is the leading source of technology news and information for IT influencers worldwide. Computerworld's award-winning Web site (www.computerworld.com), weekly publication, focused conference series and custom research, form the hub of the world's largest (40+ edition) global IT media network. In the past five years alone, Computerworld has won more than 100 awards, including Folio Magazine's 2006 Gold EDDIE Award for the best technology/computing magazine, the 2004 and 2006 Magazine of the Year Award, and 2006 Best Overall Web Publication from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE). In addition, in 2007 Computerworld's then editor in chief Don Tennant received the prestigious Timothy White Award from American Business Media. Computerworld leads the industry with an online audience of more than 2 million unique, monthly visitors and a print audience of 1,222,000 readers each week (IntelliQuest CIMS Spring 2007).

About IDG:

International Data Group (IDG) is the world's leading technology media, events, and research company. IDG's online network includes more than 450 Web sites spanning business technology, consumer technology, digital entertainment, and video games worldwide. IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers in 85 countries including CIO, CSO, Computerworld, GamePro, InfoWorld, Macworld, Network World, and PC World. IDG's lead-generation service, IDG Connect, matches technology companies with an audience of engaged, high-quality IT professionals, influencers, and decision makers. Additional information about IDG, a privately held company, is available at idg.com.

About Southern Company:

With 4.4 million customers and more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company is the premier energy company serving the Southeast. A leading U.S. producer of electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are significantly below the national average. Southern Company has been listed the top ranking U.S. electric service provider in customer satisfaction for nine consecutive years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Visit our Web site at www.southerncompany.com.

SOURCE: Southern Company

Web site: http://www.southerncompany.com/
http://www.computerworld.com/
http://www.idg.com/