Chris Cummiskey

As chief executive officer, Cummiskey is responsible for delivering growth and customer solutions across Southern Company’s subsidiaries. This role is customer focused, driving efficiencies and collaboration of Southern Company’s customer, marketing and branding strategies across the companies.

Cummiskey also leads Southern Company’s unregulated competitive businesses as he serves as Chairman and CEO of Southern Power, PowerSecure and Southern Holdings. In addition to these responsibilities, Cummiskey oversees the innovation functions for Southern Company, including Research and Development and New Ventures organization. Before becoming Group CEO for Southern Energy Resources earlier this year, Cummiskey served as executive vice president of external affairs and nuclear development for Georgia Power. Previously in his career, Cummiskey served as chief commercial officer of Southern Power and as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

From 2011 to 2013, Cummiskey served as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), where he led more than 500 company locations or expansions in Georgia, creating 46,700 jobs and nearly $9 billion in capital investment. Under his leadership, the tourism industry also registered $49 billion in total economic impact in Georgia in 2011, and the impact of the film industry reached a new record at $3.1 billion in the state in 2012. Prior to joining GDEcD, Cummiskey was a manager and director of energy and gas derivatives trading for companies including RWE Americas, Mirant and Mieco. He also served as a state director for U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia and chief of staff for the speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives.

Cummiskey is a current member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta and Trinity Presbyterian Church. He is a past member of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, the Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia World Congress Center and the Georgia board of trustees for the Nature Conservancy.

Cummiskey earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Rebecca, reside in Atlanta with their two children, Addison and Jack.