City of Sandy Springs Appoints Chris Burnett as Director of Economic Development

July 16, 2024

The City of Sandy Springs today announced the appointment of Chris Burnett as Director of Economic Development. A 35-year resident of Sandy Springs, Burnett will be responsible for Citywide economic development efforts. His first day is August 15.

As Director, Burnett will implement the Strategic Economic Development Plan ("SEDP"), facilitating economic development planning and initiatives, identifying and fostering targeted economic development opportunities, and securing funding for economic development activities and programs. In this role, he will work directly with local organizations, businesses, and individuals with economic development-related needs.

For more than 40 years, Burnett has served in a multitude of community banking positions including President & CEO of three previous Atlanta banks, Eastside Bank & Trust, Horizon Bank and Cornerstone Bank. His most recent initiative was the founding of Bank of Sandy Springs in 2013 where he served as President. Through a series of merger transactions, BoSS is now part of SouthState Bank, one of the largest and most successful regional banking companies in the southeast.

Burnett has served as Senior Vice President and Area Executive, managing SouthState's northern Perimeter markets and its Government Banking Group for metro Atlanta in recent years. He also served as Sandy Springs City Councilman, District 3 from 2016 to 2021. Currently, he serves on the Board of the Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce, Sandy Springs Civic Fund, and Special Olympics of Georgia.

"We are thrilled to welcome Chris to our team at Sandy Springs officially," said City Manager Eden Freeman. "We've refocused our strategy on redevelopment versus new development, and as we prioritize revitalization projects like the North End and City Springs Phase II, Chris' expertise will be vital. His experience in banking sets us apart from other Metro Atlanta destinations and his long involvement with the Sandy Springs business community will ensure he can hit the ground running."