Southern Company announced a key addition to its executive leadership team, effective December 5.

Nancy Sykes has been named executive vice president and chief human resources officer of Southern Company Services, providing direction to the overall enterprise. Sykes joins Southern Company from U.S. Steel, where she has served as vice president and chief human resources officer since 2015. There, she was responsible for all facets of the company's human resources organization, including employee development, talent management, talent acquisition and medical and health services.

Sykes will report directly to Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. She will be responsible for managing the human resources and labor relations function for Southern Company and all of its subsidiaries. She will also be charged with developing and implementing human capital strategies to attract, engage and motivate the current workforce and the workforce of the future.

"At Southern Company, our focus on developing successful employees is critical to how we serve our customers and our communities," Fanning said. "Our commitment to that core value is a driving force behind everything we do. It's one of the keys to 'how' we build the future of energy. Nancy brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our leadership team, and we look forward to her arrival."

Sykes joined U.S. Steel after spending more than five years with The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.  Her last role at Goodyear was vice president for human resources, Asia Pacific, with responsibility of all aspects of human resources for the company's Asia Pacific strategic business unit across 12 countries. 

Prior to joining Goodyear, Sykes spent 20 years at General Electric.  In 2005, she was named global human resources leader for GE Water & Process Technologies, and in 2007 she assumed the role of global human resources leader for GE Intelligent Platforms. 

Sykes is a native of Binghamton, N.Y., and graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.  She is also a certified Six Sigma Black Belt in human resources.