The chief financial officer of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Gary Meader, plans to retire at the end of the fiscal year, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory announced March 2.

The archbishop also announced that following an extensive search process, Bradley J. Wilson, the chief financial officer and treasurer for Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Sales & Services Co. in Atlanta, has been chosen to succeed Meader. Wilson will begin serving in the archdiocesan position on April 16.

Wilson has worked in the Coca-Cola system for 21 years in financial services, progressing to his current position in 2003. Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Sales & Services Co., a new company in 2002 that combined 80 North American Coca-Cola bottlers into one entity, is a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Enterprises.

Wilson grew up in Sandy Springs and graduated from the Marist School in Atlanta after attending St. Jude Elementary School through the sixth grade.

He went on to receive a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia. He is a graduate of Leadership Sandy Springs and serves as treasurer on the board of directors of the Sandy Springs Conservancy.

He and his wife Kathy have two children, Rebecca and Thomas, both currently at Marist, and they are members of St. Jude the Apostle Church.

Archbishop Gregory said he “enthusiastically” welcomes Wilson, who will build on the foundation laid by his predecessor.

“He has already impressed me as a man of faith, a wise and careful financial professional, a genuine Christian gentleman and a joyful believer and member of the church,” Archbishop Gregory said. “I am looking forward to working with him as together we attempt to serve the needs of the archdiocese with prudent and careful stewardship of the resources entrusted to us for the mission of the church. Brad will follow another man of faith and dedication, Gary Meader, who has brought a great many gifts and talents to the office of CFO and been an invaluable collaborator in the administration of the Church in North Georgia. Brad will build on a solid foundation.”

In a telephone interview, Wilson said after being contacted initially by the executive search firm of Korn/Ferry five months ago, he subsequently met with the archdiocesan finance council and experienced a lengthy process of consideration that resulted in this opportunity being offered to him by Archbishop Gregory.

“It is an incredible opportunity to do something different and to serve the archdiocese,” Wilson said. “I told him I would be very honored to be the CFO for the archdiocese.”

Meader, 60, has served as chief financial officer of the archdiocese since May 2002 and was chief financial officer of the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Schools prior to that.

A certified public accountant, he worked for 30 years in the corporate sector, including as an auditor and manager for the accounting firm of KPMG in St. Louis and Atlanta. He then worked for Cotton States Insurance Group, Atlanta, where he was controller from 1976-87 and CFO from 1987-99. He also formed his own consulting firm prior to being asked to become CFO for the Office of Catholic Schools.