Clay Ryan elected Alabama Power senior vice president of External Affairs
Clay Ryan comes to Alabama Power from the University of Alabama System. (contributed)
Ryan succeeds Zeke Smith, who retired from the company after 40 years.
Clay Ryan has been elected senior vice president of External Affairs for Alabama Power, effective immediately.
Ryan will be responsible for Governmental Affairs, Corporate Affairs and Charitable Giving. Zeke Smith, who previously served as Alabama Power’s executive vice president of External Affairs, announced his retirement last month after more than 40 years with the company.
“Clay is a proven leader who shares our commitment to serving the state,” said Alabama Power President and CEO Jeff Peoples. “We look forward to working together to meet the current and future needs of our customers.”
Ryan previously served as the senior vice chancellor for External Affairs for the University of Alabama System, where he was responsible for federal, state and local governmental affairs activities for the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and UAB Health System.
Prior to his time with the University of Alabama System, Ryan chaired the Governmental and Regulatory Affairs practice group at Maynard Nexsen, an Alabama-based law firm with 24 offices across the United States.
Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Birmingham-Southern College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law, where he was editor of the Alabama Law Review. Ryan is a graduate of both Leadership Birmingham and Leadership Alabama and has been recognized as a Birmingham Business Journal Top 40 Under 40 and a Yellowhammer News Power & Influence 50.
In addition to his new position at Alabama Power, Ryan serves as a member of the board of directors of the Business Council of Alabama and has served as a board member of the Glenwood Autism & Behavioral Health Center. He is also chair of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama Roundtable.
Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), provides reliable, affordable electricity to 1.5 million customers across the state. Learn more at alabamapower.com.
