Thomas Fanning

Thomas A. Fanning is an American business executive best known for his long-standing leadership of Southern Company, one of the United States’ largest energy providers. He served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Company from 2010 to 2023. Under his leadership, the company advanced major infrastructure investments in nuclear, renewable, and natural gas energy, and became a national model for grid modernization and clean energy transition.

Fanning began his career with Southern Company in 1980 and held a wide range of executive roles across its subsidiaries and functions, including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Information Officer. His deep expertise in both the financial and operational aspects of utility management helped him guide Southern Company through significant changes in the U.S. energy landscape, including the challenges of decarbonization, cybersecurity, and regulatory reform.

One of the hallmark initiatives of Fanning’s tenure was his oversight of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant expansion, which includes the first newly constructed nuclear reactors in the U.S. in more than three decades. Despite cost and schedule challenges, the project underscored his commitment to long-term, sustainable energy infrastructure.