Sandy Springs Names Interim City Manager, Hires Search Firm

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — The City of Sandy Springs has begun its search for a new city manager by hiring a consulting firm to lead the process.

Find Great People (FGP), a nationally recognized executive recruitment firm with a talent platform inclusive of C-level search and management recruitment including proven capabilities in government search, was selected to identify a replacement for John McDonough, whose last day is Aug. 2.

FGP has more than 35 years’ experience working across the country, for clients ranging from public companies and high growth, privately held business to government entities. The firm, based in Greenville, South Carolina, is the same executive search firm that tapped McDonough for his new position as city manager in Greenville, South Carolina.

“We wanted to engage a firm with demonstrated experience in attracting top-tiered candidates in both the government and C-Suite sectors," Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul said. "In addition, FGP’s recruitment of John to Greenville gives the company a unique understanding of the quality of talent we are seeking."

FGP began work in late June, with a timeline to complete the search by the end of the year. FGP will receive a placement fee equal to 22 percent of the accepted first-year base salary.

The City Council also adopted a resolution naming Peggy Merriss, the former city manager for the city of Decatur, as interim city manager. Merriss retired from Decatur in December 2018, after serving that city for 35 years, 25 as city manager. She was the first woman and the youngest person to serve as President of the International City-County Manager Association (ICMA) and currently serves as the chair of the ICMA-RC Board of Directors.

“We have a strong senior leadership team who will continue to lead day-to-day operations," Paul said. "The addition of Peggy in the interim city manager role will help ensure consistency across the organization. We are fortunate to locate someone of her caliber and experience."

Merriss will be paid $17,000 in salary per month through Dec. 31. She begins at interim city manager on Aug. 2.