Topazi retiring as COO of Southern Company

ATLANTA — Southern Company chairman, president and CEO Thomas A. Fanning has made public a number of changes within the company’s management team, effective July 1, including the replacement for Anthony Topazi.

According to Fanning, Mark A. Crosswhite will become executive vice president and COO for Southern Company. Crosswhite will assume the role vacated by Topazi, who has announced plans to retire.

Topazi is the former chief executive of Mississippi Power Co. He was named COO of Atlanta-based Southern Company in July 2010.

During his 42 years of service, Topazi has held a number of key leadership roles. In addition to CEO of Mississippi Power, he also served as vice president of Alabama Power’s western division.

“Throughout his career, Anthony’s unparalleled leadership and drive have led Southern Company and its subsidiaries through some of its greatest challenges,” said Fanning. “He has served as a voice for our customers, and his singular vision has had a far-reaching influence on the future success of our company and industry.”