Southern Co. names new chief compliance officer of services unit

Southern Co. named Thomas Bishop senior vice president, chief compliance officer and deputy general counsel of Southern Company Services, effective Jan. 1, the company said on Wednesday.

Bishop will be in charge of legal and regulatory areas, coordinating with other compliance officers within the Southern Company structure. Bishop currently works as senior vice president, chief compliance officer, corporate secretary and general counsel for Southern subsidiary Georgia Power.

"Tom's extensive legal and regulatory experience in the Southern Company system will bring immediate value to his new role," James Kerr II , Southern's executive vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer, said. "He understands how to effectively address many of the challenges facing our company and industry today while positioning Southern Company for a successful future."

Bishop originally joined Southern in 1993 as a staff attorney. Prior to this, Bishop practiced law in Georgia, specifically in Atlanta, Macon and Cartersville. Bishop earned his law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 1985.