Here’s what we know about the next leader for Horry County, SC. Is he the highest paid?

The next lead administrator for the county starts on Jan. 1, 2025.

Assistant County Administrator Barry Spivey was promoted to the top role during a meeting Tuesday evening. He will be replacing Steve Gosnell, whose contract ends in December 2024.

Previous reporting shows that this new role is the highest paid county employee, with Spivey’s predecessor making $253,000 last year.

Those same records show that Spivey was the fourth highest-paid county employee in his current position as assistant county administrator, making $187,088.44.

He was unanimously selected during a special meeting on Tuesday by the Horry County Council.

“Thank you for your confidence in our team and this opportunity,” he said in a statement. “I am first and foremost a servant, and I am both humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve this Council, my team, every employee of our County, and this Community.”

Spivey has served as the assistant county administrator since the summer of 2019. Before his promotion to assistant administrator, a media release said Spivey also served as the county’s Finance Director from 2011 to 2019.

Before his career with the county, Spivey worked in the private sector for 22 years as the chief financial officer for Burroughs & Chapin, a large county real estate firm.

He received his MBA from Coastal Carolina University.

Spivey said he plans to highlight teamwork and push the county toward the future to accomplish critical needs for infrastructure, public safety, and constituent services.

“We are truly blessed as an organization and as a community,” Spivey said in the statement. “We, as a team, look forward to continuing our commitment to excellence in the services we provide this community as responsible stewards of our taxpayer’s money.”