Hugh S. (Beau) Cummins III, co-chief operating officer of SunTrust Banks, Inc., has been elected chair of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta for a two-year term.

“The World Affairs Council of Atlanta plays a critical role by providing a venue for businesses, academia and the broader civic community to engage in dialogue to further cultural understanding and learning among Atlantans,” Cummins said. “I am proud to serve as the next chairman of this great organization and to bolster its mission of providing a forum for informed discussion and supporting the city’s transformation into a global hub.”

Bernard Taylor, partner at Alston & Bird, will continue to serve as vice chair. The Council’s Executive Committee is composed of Cummins, vice-chair Bernard Taylor, Frank Blount (chair, Nominating and Governance Committee), Jeff Bowman (chair, Finance Committee), Mark Becker, president of Georgia State University, and Rich Phillips, dean of Georgia State’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business.

Previous chairs include founding Board members Dennis Lockhart (2010-13), former president and chief executive officer of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, who was the organization’s founding chair, David Abney (2013-16), chairman and chief executive officer of UPS, and Clyde Tuggle (2016-18), who was chief public affairs officer of The Coca-Cola Company and is the co-founder of Pine Island Capital Partners. Lockhart, Abney and Tuggle remain on the Board of Directors.

“As we implement our new strategic plan, I can’t think of a leader more aligned with our vision,” said ambassador Charles Shapiro, Council president. “His ability to look at issues from a different perspective and suggest innovative ways to help Atlanta lead globally by bridging the gap between local and global will inspire our board, staff and members.”

The World Affairs Council of Atlanta is a membership and grant supported, non-partisan organization affiliated with Georgia State, the J. Mack Robinson College of Business and the World Affairs Councils of America. It provides a forum for informed discussion of the global affairs that affect metro Atlanta and support the city’s transformation into a global hub.