Tim McKinley, Board Chair

On July 1, 2024, Tim McKinley of Atlanta began his tenure as the Chair of the Georgia Conservancy’s Board of Trustees.

McKinley serves as the Chief Sales Officer of Cox Automotive, a global automotive services and software company part of Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises, Inc., where he leads the sales teams across all Cox Automotive brands. With more than 40 years of leadership experience, McKinley oversees nearly 2,500 employees, working to create a unified sales team and streamline operations to better serve clients and drive growth.

A Georgia resident for over 40 years, McKinley will soon call the Lake Oconee area his permanent home. He owns recreational timber property in Morgan County and is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing and hunting. Most importantly, he cherishes spending time with his family, especially his six (soon to be eight!) grandchildren.

McKinley has served on the Georgia Conservancy Board of Trustees since 2020, sharing his passion for enhancing initiatives that promote conservation and sustainable use of the land and its resources.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of West Florida and completed executive development programs at the MIT Sloan School of Management and the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.

“Since 1967, the Georgia Conservancy has been a leader in working across businesses, government, education, and private citizens to conserve our state’s natural resources,” says McKinley. “I am deeply honored to be a part of this organization and together with our Trustees, partners, and staff, I am committed to ensuring that our efforts continue to protect and enrich our state’s invaluable resources for generations to come.”

Tim McKinley succeeds Virginia Harman as Board Chair, a position she held for two years and one from which she oversaw several positive changes and events, including the development of a new annual fundraiser and successful advocacy efforts to establish the Georgia Farmland Conservation Program.

“Tim McKinley is an outdoorsman and conservationist with a deep appreciation for Georgia’s landscapes and resources – a personal passion that aligns with the Georgia Conservancy’s mission,” says Georgia Conservancy President Katherine Moore. “We are excited to welcome him into his new role as Board Chair. During his time as a Trustee, Tim has provided the organization with important organizational oversight experience and has proven to be unflappable in the face of urgent issues, skills necessary as the Georgia Conservancy continues to contribute solutions to complex conservation challenges in our growing state.”