Southern Company Gas has appointed Beta Kappa Archon John O. Hudson, III to a new role as president and CEO of Nicor Gas, the largest natural gas distribution company in the state of Illinois on June 17, 2020.
Archon Hudson transitioned from his prior position as Southern Company Executive Vice President and Chief External and Public Affairs Officer. In this prior role, he had responsibility for the company’s external and regulatory affairs, customer operations, corporate communications, marketing, community relations, charitable foundation, economic development and environmental affairs functions.
As the chief executive at Nicor Gas, Archon Hudson will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of clean, safe, reliable and affordable natural gas to over 2.2 million homes and businesses in more than 650 northern Illinois communities. A 20-year Southern Company veteran, Archon Hudson will continue to serve as an executive vice president of Southern Company Gas and a member of the company’s Management Council, as well as retain responsibility for its Corporate Market Strategy organization.
“I am committed first and foremost to the customers and communities we serve,” said Archon Hudson. “We have a tremendous team of experienced professionals, and I look forward to working with them to spur even greater development across our service territory. Together we will achieve Illinois’ clean energy goals while protecting our most vulnerable populations and maintaining access, choice and affordability.”
A passionate philanthropist dedicated to inspiring young entrepreneurs, Hudson is chairman of the board of directors of Bronze Valley Corporation, which he launched to expand the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem among people of color in the technology industry. For his work in this area of philanthropy, innovation and entrepreneurship, he was selected for the prestigious Aspen Institute Ascend Fellowship, which brings together an exclusive group of diverse leaders across the United States to work on breakthrough ideas to build economic security for families across America.
Hudson received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Alabama A&M University and is a cum laude graduate of Miles College School of Law. He also completed the Executive Accounting and Finance Program at Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and the Young American Leaders Program at Harvard Business School. He and his Archousa, Nyya, will reside in Chicago.