The Atlanta Committee for Progress announced the selection of Duriya Farooqui as its new Executive Director, effective May 2, 2016. The ACP is a public-private partnership that brings together CEOs and top executives from Atlanta businesses, universities and nonprofit organizations to provide leadership on issues of critical impact for Atlanta. The ACP works with the Mayor's Office and its members serve on a variety of task forces offering best practice expertise in service of the City of Atlanta and its future development.

"Duriya is a versatile, highly effective leader with a passion for innovation. She is known for her skill in driving strategy to execution and aligning stakeholders to foster the engagement we need," said Paul Bowers, Chairman of the ACP and Chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "Her experience in both the private sector and in public service makes her uniquely qualified to achieve the ACP mission of providing leadership to promote economic development in the City of Atlanta."

Farooqui joins the ACP after two years at Bain & Company as a principal, and six years of public service with the City of Atlanta, including chief operating officer. At Bain & Company, Farooqui was responsible for working with business executives to drive management strategy, leading consulting teams, creating relationships and delivering high impact results. In this role, she led a team in the development of a strategy and plan for the largest school network serving low-income children in Metro Atlanta. She was also instrumental in her work with large companies to help transform their businesses and achieve critical growth and strategic objectives.

As COO for the City of Atlanta, Farooqui managed the city's operating departments and agencies that represented a budget of more than $1.8 billion and more than 7,000 city employees. She brought focus to data driven management and led major initiatives including pension reform, restricting city operations, opening of the international terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and a 30 year agreement with the Atlanta Falcons for the new Mercedes-Benz stadium opening in 2017.

Mayor Kasim Reed named Farooqui as COO for the City of Atlanta in 2011.

"Duriya provided outstanding leadership for the City of Atlanta as my Chief Operating Officer. With her ability to develop innovative solutions and build support to implement them, I believe Duriya is uniquely suited for her new role as Executive Director of the Atlanta Committee for Progress," Mayor Reed said. "ACP is one of Atlanta's most unique and important assets. The guidance and support of this exceptional group of business leaders has been essential to what we've achieved over the past six years of my Administration, and I look forward to working with Duriya as we continue to make path-breaking progress for the City of Atlanta." 

"I am delighted to lead the ACP at this pivotal time for Atlanta and help accelerate the development of our dynamic city. I am looking forward to working with ACP members to build on Atlanta's long-standing tradition of civic engagement," said Farooqui.

Farooqui holds an M.P.A. in International Development from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and a bachelor's in Economics and Mathematics from Hampshire College. Active in the community, she is a Trustee of The Woodruff Arts Center and serves on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, the Center for Civic Innovation and the International Women's Forum of Georgia.