Salisbury City Council today announced the appointment of W. Brian Hiatt as interim city manager on a part-time basis as the locality begins its permanent manager search. Hiatt retired as the city manager of Concord in spring 2018, and subsequently served as Salisbury’s interim community planning director for five months.
Earlier this year, current Salisbury City Manager W. Lane Bailey announced his decision to retire after 32 years of local government service. Bailey’s official last day is Friday, Dec. 31.
“A seasoned city manager with more than 35 years of local government experience, Brian Hiatt came well-recommended for this interim role,” said Salisbury Mayor Karen Alexander. “City Council made this hiring decision based on Brian’s strong budgeting background as we approach the budget season, his relationships within our metropolitan region, and his prior work leading our community planning department in 2018. We have no doubt that Brian’s leadership over his 19-year career in Concord helped that city become the thriving community it is today.”
“I look back on my previous interim stint with Salisbury, fondly,” said Hiatt. “Lane has built a top-notch team there, and I look forward to working with them once again. While I thoroughly enjoy retirement, I am pleased that I can assist Salisbury’s City Council part-time as they launch their city manager search.”
Hiatt served as Concord's city manager for 19 years. He previously served as an assistant city manager in Hickory for over 10 years.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University, where he graduated summa cum laude, and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
A comprehensive search for a permanent city manager is being led by Baker Tilly Search and Staffing. No timeline is expected in naming Bailey’s permanent successor.
Hiatt will transition with Bailey over the month of December and officially transition in January 2022.