Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has named Nina Hickson as city attorney and appointed Joshua Williams as the city’s newest deputy chief operating officer, the city announced in a press release today.

Hickson joined the mayor’s administration as interim city attorney in May after having served as general counsel for the Atlanta BeltLine since 2016. 

“Nina Hickson has a well-earned reputation as an extraordinary attorney and outstanding public servant,” Bottoms said. “Her expertise and commitment to ethics and transparency will help the city of Atlanta navigate through critical issues, and her counsel has already been of great value to this administration.”

Williams joins the city after serving for four years as COO for DeKalb County Schools, a district with nearly 14,000 employees, a $150 million general operating budget and a $1.2 billion capital improvement program, according to the city. 

“As we strive for excellence across all aspects of city operations, Joshua Williams will play a pivotal role in ensuring we are operating not only in an efficient and transparent manner, but in a way that has a tangible impact on the quality of life for all Atlantans. We are fortunate to have someone with his experience and commitment to public service join our leadership team,” Bottoms said.

Hickson’s appointment is effective immediately, while Williams will begin his new role on August 6.