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Mr Davis spent his early career on the corporate financial staffs of Ford Motor Company and Xerox Corporation, subsequently joining the former Wisconsin Power and Light Co in 1978 as vice president finance. In 1982, he was named vice president finance and public affairs, and in 1984, he was promoted to executive vice president and was elected to the board of directors. He became president in 1987 and chief executive officer in 1988. In 1990, he was also named president and chief executive officer of WPL Holdings, the parent company of Wisconsin Power and Light Co. He was named Alliant Energy’s president and chief executive officer when the company was first formed in 1998, and was appointed chairman in 2000. He relinquished the appointments of president and chief executive officer in 2005, continuing as chairman of Alliant Energy until 1 February 2006, when he left to become chancellor of the University System of Georgia. He is a member of the board of directors of General Motors Corporation and Union Pacific Corporation. In 2004, he was elected to the board of the US Olympic committee and chairs its audit committee. In 2004, Mr Davis was awarded the James E Steward Award by the American Association of Blacks in Energy for his achievement and leadership in the energy field. | 