Southern Company Appoints Hans Brown as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Technology Officer, Ushering in a New Era of Digital Innovation
Southern Company has officially announced the appointment of Hans Brown as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO), effective July 31. In this pivotal leadership role, Brown will spearhead the company’s technology strategy and digital transformation journey, guiding innovation across the enterprise and aligning IT initiatives with customer expectations and business growth. His appointment underscores Southern Company’s commitment to technological excellence and the integration of advanced digital capabilities across its operations.
Brown brings to Southern Company a distinguished and dynamic global career marked by deep expertise in platform operating models, enterprise technology transformation, digital innovation, and strategic fintech partnerships. With a record of successfully leading large-scale change across multiple geographies—including North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia—Brown is widely respected as a thought leader in using technology to enhance business performance and customer experiences.
In his new role as CITO, Brown will lead the charge in fortifying Southern Company’s digital infrastructure, optimizing data and analytics capabilities, and adopting emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve operational efficiency and service delivery. His appointment comes at a critical time for the energy sector, where digital agility, data-driven decision-making, and innovation are increasingly essential to meet evolving customer demands, environmental imperatives, and the shift toward cleaner energy solutions.
A Proven Leader in Global Technology Transformation
Before joining Southern Company, Brown served in a series of high-impact roles at BNY Mellon (BNY), one of the world’s largest global financial institutions. His leadership portfolio at BNY included serving as Executive Platform Owner for Loans Enablement, Chief Information Officer for Issuer Services and Corporate Technology, and Global Head of Enterprise Innovation.
At BNY, Brown was instrumental in advancing the bank’s enterprise-wide digital transformation. He led a number of modernization initiatives, including the consolidation of legacy systems, deployment of cloud-native applications, and the evolution of the company’s technology operating model. As Executive Platform Owner, he was at the helm of the Loans Enablement Platform, which he successfully integrated into BNY’s broader platform operating model to deliver scalable operational leverage and support rapid business expansion.
Brown’s team comprised more than 1,200 technology professionals spread across 10 international hubs. His leadership fostered a culture of collaboration, agility, and innovation, enabling faster go-to-market capabilities and better alignment between IT and business functions.
Notably, Brown also directed BNY’s global enterprise innovation strategy, where he cultivated and managed a fintech investment and partnership portfolio of over 40 companies—several of which attained “unicorn” status. His ability to identify, integrate, and scale disruptive technologies made him a trusted advisor not only within the organization but also across the broader innovation ecosystem.
Strategic Vision to Guide Southern Company’s Technology Future
In a statement announcing the appointment, Southern Company chairman, president, and CEO Chris Womack emphasized the strategic importance of Brown’s arrival:
“We are excited to welcome Hans to Southern Company. Hans’ proven track record in technology and digital innovation will be invaluable as we continue to evolve how we serve customers and run our business. His expertise in integrating emerging technologies with traditional business models aligns with our vision for the future. As an industry and globally, we are in a period of innovation and transformation, and the momentum of change continues to build. The CITO plays a critical role in how we not only thrive but lead through that change.”
Womack’s remarks reflect Southern Company’s broader digital transformation objectives, which include building a smarter, more responsive energy grid; leveraging real-time data to improve reliability and performance; and deploying innovative customer solutions in line with the energy transition and sustainability goals.
Brown is expected to be a key architect in this transformation, providing the vision, leadership, and technical guidance necessary to integrate advanced technologies across operational and strategic layers of the business. His experience in bridging traditional infrastructure with cutting-edge innovation will be particularly valuable as Southern Company continues to modernize its operations while maintaining reliability, safety, and customer focus.
A Commitment to Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact
In response to his appointment, Brown shared his enthusiasm for joining one of America’s leading energy companies:
“I am honored to join Southern Company and look forward to working with the talented team to drive innovation and technological advancement. Southern Company is a leader in the energy sector, and I am excited to contribute to its continued success and transformation in service to customers and communities.”
Brown’s leadership is also distinguished by his commitment to creating inclusive technology environments that support diverse talent and foster equitable opportunities. At BNY and in prior roles, he was recognized for cultivating a culture of continuous learning, agile transformation, and empowerment across global teams. This aligns strongly with Southern Company’s own values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly in how the organization builds and supports its workforce and serves diverse communities across the U.S.
Educational Foundation and Professional Credentials
Hans Brown holds an impressive academic background that reflects both technical rigor and global perspective. He earned an MSc (Honors) in International Technology Management from Warwick University, a program known for its focus on managing complex, technology-driven enterprises in a global context. He also holds an M.Eng (Honors) in Civil and Structural Engineering from the University of Liverpool, underscoring his early grounding in engineering principles and systems thinking.
This dual foundation in engineering and international technology management has served him well throughout his career, enabling him to approach complex problems with a unique blend of analytical precision and strategic foresight. It also reflects his capability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage initiatives that span both business and technology domains.
Positioning for the Future
As energy companies across the world face mounting challenges—from decarbonization mandates and rising energy demands to cyber resilience and the integration of renewables—CIOs and CITOs are taking on increasingly vital roles in steering their organizations through complex digital landscapes. Hans Brown’s appointment signals Southern Company’s intention not merely to keep pace with these changes, but to lead with innovation, foresight, and customer-centricity.
Southern Company, a Fortune 500 energy company serving more than 9 million customers through its subsidiaries, has long been known for its forward-thinking approach to energy infrastructure, reliability, and environmental stewardship. With Brown’s leadership, the company is poised to take bold steps in accelerating the digitalization of its grid and business operations—enhancing resilience, improving customer experiences, and supporting a cleaner, smarter energy future.
Whether it’s deploying artificial intelligence to optimize grid performance, using predictive analytics to manage assets more effectively, or enabling customers with smarter energy tools and insights, Brown’s vision and experience will shape how Southern Company navigates the fast-evolving energy landscape.
As Southern Company enters this new chapter, Hans Brown’s leadership is expected to strengthen the company’s position at the intersection of energy and technology—an intersection that increasingly defines the future of the industry.
