Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning announced that Dr. Larry S. Monroe has been named chief environmental officer and research and environmental affairs senior vice president of Southern Company Services, Inc., effectiveMarch 1. Monroe will succeed Christopher M. Hobson, who has announced plans to retire, effective June 27. 

During the transition, Hobson will continue to oversee environmental external affairs and fulfill his leadership responsibilities with the Electric Power Research Institute and the Coal Utilization Research Council.

"Chris has been instrumental in helping Southern Company take a leadership role in developing innovative solutions for the environment," said Fanning. "The respect he has earned in the energy, regulatory, research and stakeholder communities has served our customers well and cemented Chris' legacy as a company and industry leader."  

Monroe currently serves as environmental affairs general manager of subsidiary Georgia Power. In his new role, Monroe will be responsible for the Southern Company system's environmental initiatives, including the assessment of federal environmental policy, compliance strategies and stewardship, and the research and development of new energy innovations.

"Larry's extensive emissions-control technology research exemplifies Southern Company's commitment to energy innovation," said Fanning. "His leadership and expertise, which are widely recognized across the industry, have been central to our company's successful efforts to reduce emissions while ensuring we continue to meet our customers' growing demand for energy."

Monroe, 57, joined Southern Company in 1998 as a principal engineer in the research and environmental affairs organization. He has since served as manager of the emissions control research group and senior research consultant, and has conducted research into coal technologies for the utility industry at Southern Research Institute – a non-profit research organization – and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Laboratory.

Monroe earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Auburn University and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has held a variety of leadership roles in industry groups including the Utility Air Regulatory Group, the Electric Power Research Institute and the Coal Utilization Research Council.