AGL Resources names Bryan Batson as president of Atlanta Gas Light

By Maria Saporta

Atlanta Gas Light has new president — Bryan Batson — who has been serving as AGL Resource’s senior vice president of commercial operations.

Batson is succeeding Steve Lindsey, who is leaving the company to join the St. Louis-based Laclede Group. Interestingly enough, Lindsey became president of Atlanta Gas Light last December after his predecessor, Suzanne Sitherwood, left to become Laclede’s president. She was named Laclede’s CEO earlier this year.

In addition to serving as president of Atlanta Gas Light, Batson also will serve as president of Chattanooga Gas and Florida City Gas as well as vice president of Southern Operations for AGL Resources.

“We are fortunate to have Bryan’s leadership in this important role,” Hank Linginfelter, executive vice president of distribution operations for AGL Resources, said in a statement. “His experience in utility operations, combined with his expertise in the regulatory arena allows him to bring a unique perspective to the position and ensure the customers of Atlanta Gas Light, Chattanooga Gas and Florida City Gas continue to enjoy safe, reliable and affordable natural gas service.”

In his former role as senior vice president of commercial operations, Batson oversaw customer services for AGL’s 4.5 million customers served by its seven natural gas distribution companies. He also helped set regulatory and legislative strategy, utility marketing and energy efficiency programs for the utilities. Batson has spent nearly three decades as an engineer and in utility field operations.

In addition to those roles, Batson serves on the board of directors for the AGL Resources Private Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta and on the Grady Health System Board of Visitors. He received his bachelor of civil engineering from Clemson University and holds a masters in technology management from Mercer University.

AGL Resources also announced the realignment of key executives to support its distribution operations.

Scott Carter has been named senior vice president of commercial operations, and in this role, will have oversight of customer experience, energy efficiency and utility marketing activities for the company’s seven natural gas distribution companies. He also will continue to serve as the company’s chief regulatory officer, responsible for regulatory strategy in all jurisdictions.

“Scott’s progressive leadership experience makes him an ideal leader to guide our energy efficiency and marketing initiatives and ensure we’re delivering on the promise of a superior customer experience in all of our regulated utilities,” Linginfelter said.

Carter serves on the board of the American Red Cross Southern Region Blood Services. He holds a bachelor of business administration in accounting from Valdosta State University.

Jim Kibler, vice president of external affairs and public policy, is responsible for directing the company’s overall governmental and public policy initiatives. He also oversees the enterprise-wide economic development and community relations activities in the more than 1,100 communities in seven states served by our natural gas utilities.

Linginfelter added, “With energy at the forefront of our national dialogue, our public policy initiatives are increasingly critical to the success of our company, as well as the energy security of our country, and Jim has superb skills for leading these efforts.”

Kibler serves as vice chair of the American Gas Association’s legislative committee and is a member of the advisory council for the Trust for Public Lands in Georgia. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and his law degree, with honors, from the University of Richmond.

Batson, Carter and Kibler are based in Atlanta and will report to Linginfelter.

Additionally, David Weaver has been named vice president of regulatory affairs. In this role, he will lead the regulatory strategy for all of the company’s seven regulated utilities. Weaver earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He is based in Atlanta and will report to Carter.