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City of Atlanta General Employees' Pension Fund (GEPP)
The City of Atlanta General Employees' Pension Fund (GEPP) provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to non-public-safety employees of the City of...
City of Atlanta General Employees' Pension Fund (GEPP)
The City of Atlanta General Employees' Pension Fund (GEPP) provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to non-public-safety employees of the City of Atlanta and participating employers, including the Atlanta Board of Education. The fund operates under the stewardship of a board of trustees, with Atlanta's mayor holding statutory appointment authority and vice-chair responsibilities. The fund's legal affairs have been managed by outside counsel Ed Emerson of Morris, Manning & Martin, and trustee Alfred Berry, Jr. has served as a long-standing board member. The portfolio is allocated across global equities, fixed income, and a dedicated alternatives sleeve. Board records and public filings consistently show an alternatives program concentrated in buyout strategies across direct commitments and fund-of-funds structures. The fund has historically participated in private equity, real estate, infrastructure, and private credit strategies, typically through institutional commingled vehicles. While exact commitments remain undisclosed outside of public meeting minutes, the fund has appeared as a limited partner in several prominent lower- and middle-market buyout fundraises over the past decade. GEPP's investment staff and consultant relationships operate through a formal procurement and board-governance framework typical of a mid-sized US public pension. The fund does not maintain a separate operating company or family-office structure. Philanthropic activity is not a function of the pension plan itself, though the City of Atlanta's broader social-impact initiatives occasionally intersect with the fund's place-based investment policy discussions. No dedicated co-investment vehicle or separate foundation is affiliated with the pension plan. GEPP functions as a pure public pension fiduciary, not a hybrid or outsourced-CIO platform. Its structural distinction lies in its position as a municipal general-employee plan within a major Sunbelt city, operating under Georgia state pension law with an appointed board — a governance model that creates a concentrated decision-making chain from the mayor's office through the board to consultant-sourced manager selection.
General information
Firm type
Pension Fund
Year founded
1927
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Atlanta
Corporate office
Atlanta, GA, United States
Principals
Andre Dickens
Mayor of Atlanta, Vice Chair of the Pension Investment Board
Alfred Berry, Jr.
Trustee
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who oversees investment decisions at GEPP?
The Board of Trustees governs the fund, with the Mayor of Atlanta serving as vice chair. The board delegates sourcing and due diligence to an external investment consultant, with final approval authority retained by the trustees. Major commitments are voted on during public board meetings.
What alternative asset classes does GEPP target?
The fund's alternatives program concentrates on private equity, with a historical emphasis on buyout strategies. It also allocates to real estate, infrastructure, and private credit, typically through institutional commingled funds rather than direct co-investments or separate accounts. Public meeting minutes confirm these commitments are spread across US-focused managers.
Does GEPP make direct investments or only fund commitments?
GEPP predominantly invests through commingled private-market funds. The fund's governance structure and staffing model are consistent with a public pension that relies on external managers rather than building an internal direct-investment platform. There is no public record of dedicated co-investment or direct deal activity.
Which employers participate in the GEPP plan?
The City of Atlanta is the primary plan sponsor. The Atlanta Board of Education is also a participating employer. The plan covers general employees — those not in police or fire roles, which have separate pension arrangements within the city.
How does GEPP's governance shape its investment posture?
The mayor's statutory role as vice chair of the investment board creates a direct line between city leadership and asset allocation decisions. This structure, combined with Georgia's conservative pension funding laws, tends to favor consultant-driven manager selection, transparent board deliberation, and a measured pace of new commitment activity.
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