Company: SOJE
Filing Date: 2025-03-31
Form Type: PRE 14A
Source: 0000092122-25-000032
Chunk: 16

Company: SOUTHERN CO
Filing Date: 2025-03-31
Form: PRE 14A
Chunk 16
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 Board met seven times in 2024. All of our Directors attended at least 75% of applicable Board and committee meetings in 2024. Our Directors are engaged, as demonstrated by the average Director attendance at all applicable Board and committee meetings in 2024 of 98% . All Director nominees are expected to participate in the annual meeting of stockholders. All nominees for Director at the 2024 annual meeting attended the meeting.

#### 14Southern Company2025 Proxy Statement

#### Governance

#### Board Nomination Process

#### Identifying Nominees for Election to the Board
The Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee, comprised entirely of independent Directors, is responsible for identifying, evaluating and recommending nominees for election to the Board. Final selection of the nominees for election to the Board is within the sole discretion of the Board. The Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee also evaluates and makes recommendations about the size of the Board. The Board is currently comprised of 14 members and Hal Clark will retire as the upcoming annual meeting. Effective as of the annual meeting, the Board will be reduced to 13 members.

The Board believes that, as a whole, it should have collective qualifications, attributes, skills and experience beneficial to our Company and in line with our long-term strategic plans.

Mr. Etheredge was recommended by the Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee for election as an independent Director and was elected to the Board effective April 1, 2025. Mr. Etheredge was identified as a candidate by the CEO and the non-management Directors.

| 1 |     |                                                                                                                                                                               |     | Board Succession Planning                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
 4Evaluate qualifications and skills of Board                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
 4Identify skills and experience to enhance effectiveness                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |     |                                                   |     |                                                                           |
| 2 |     |                                                                                                                                                                               |     | Identification of Candidates by Nomination, Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |     |                                                   |     |                                                                           |
|   |     | 4Evergreen process                                                                                                                                                            |     | 4Identify qualified candidates based on talent framework                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |     |                                                   |     | 4Assistance from independent search firm                                  |
|   |     | 4Consider personal characteristics and qualifications, including:                                                                                                             |     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |     |                                                   |     |                                                                           |
|   |     | History of achievement that reflects superior standards                                                                                                                       
 Willingness to commit sufficient time                                                                                                                                         
 Genuine interest in