Atlanta — Dec 08, 2021
The Atlanta Regional Commission Board today voted to appoint Anna Roach as the agency’s next Executive Director. Roach has served as Chief Operating Officer for Fulton County since 2017 and previously worked as the county’s Chief Strategy Officer.
Roach, 47, becomes ARC’s first female leader and will succeed Doug Hooker, who has been ARC’s Executive Director since 2011. She plans to join ARC in February 2022 to allow for a smooth transition with Hooker, who will retire at the end of March 2022.
“Anna Roach is a proven leader with a strong track record of success and a deep passion for the Atlanta region,” said ARC Board Chairman Kerry Armstrong. “She’s poised to build on the innovative work taking place at ARC and continue to move the agency forward.”
Roach holds a law degree from St. John’s University and a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York, College at Cortland. Earlier in her career, she served as Assistant Deputy General Counsel for the District of Columbia Department of Human Resources, an administrative law judge in the city of New York, and as appellate counsel for the Legal Aid Society of New York.
“I am honored by the confidence shown in me by the ARC Board and am eager to lead the agency’s efforts to build a better, brighter future for all residents,” Roach said.
“The Atlanta Regional Commission is a highly effective and trusted organization that plays a key role in shaping our community. I am excited to get to know the agency’s talented staff and work with them to improve quality of life in our region.”
Roach said her priorities include promoting housing access and health equity and developing a highly skilled, regional workforce. She also aims to find common ground on the best path forward for transit in the Atlanta region, as well as elevating the dialogue on addressing climate challenges.
“This is a critical time for the Atlanta region. We must seize the moment before us to make transformational advancements that will drive economic recovery and long-term prosperity for our region,” she said.
Roach lives in the City of South Fulton with her husband, Mark, and four children.
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the official planning agency for the 11-county Atlanta Region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties as well as the City of Atlanta and 74 other cities. The Atlanta Regional Commission serves as a catalyst for regional progress by focusing leadership, attention, and planning resources on key regional issues.
###
Contact Name: Paul Donsky
Contact Phone: 404-202-4662
Contact Email: pdonsky@atlantaregional.org