Southern Company today announced the election of John D. Johns to its board of directors, effective Feb. 9. Johns has served as the chairman, president and CEO of Protective Life Corporation since 2002.

"John's outstanding career is marked by his focus on community growth and delivering financial services that enhance the well-being of customers," said Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. "His leadership and dedication to service align with our commitment to make the communities and families we serve better off because we are there."

Fanning also remarked that Johns' extensive knowledge of the Southeast's business climate, coupled with his experience on the Alabama Power board of directors, positions him to provide immediate value to Southern Company and customers.

Johns joined Protective Life Corporation in 1993 as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Before his tenure at Protective, Johns served as general counsel of Sonat, Inc., a diversified energy company primarily involved in domestic oil and natural gas exploration, transmission and storage of natural gas, and natural gas and electric power marketing and generation. Prior to joining Sonat, Johns was a founding partner of the law firm Maynard Cooper & Gale.

Johns' career has been focused on active engagement in his community and philanthropy. On the national stage, he has served on the executive committee of the Financial Services Roundtable in Washington, D.C., and is the immediate past chairman of the American Council of Life Insurers. Johns is on the boards of directors of Regions Financial Corporation and Genuine Parts Company, and he has helped shape the growth of the region as the chairman of the Business Council of Alabama, the Birmingham Business Alliance, the Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America and Innovation Depot – Alabama's leading business and tech incubator.

His lifetime of civic involvement and professional excellence earned his induction into the prestigious Alabama Academy of Honor in 2013.

Johns earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama, where he serves on the Board of Advisers for the University's Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility and on the Board of Trustees for the University of Alabama system. Johns also received a juris doctor from Harvard Law School and a master's in business administration from Harvard Business School.