Johnson County’s new top administrator first started in government with the city of Lawrence.

Hannes Zacharias was promoted Thursday from deputy county manager to county manager. He will start his new duties Sept. 1 with an annual salary of $187,600.

Zacharias succeeds Mike Press, who retired in May.

A resident of Lenexa, Zacharias has been with the county eight years. He started in 2001 as assistant county manager before being promoted to deputy county manager in 2005.

“I am thrilled, humbled and greatly appreciate the opportunity to serve as the new county manger. My goal is to build on what is already here – an outstanding Johnson County government, dedicated Johnson County employees to public service, and a great Johnson County community to call home,” Zacharias said.

“There certainly are going to be challenges to meet and obstacles to overcome, but there’s also a lot of opportunities to make Johnson County – as a government and community – better.”

A native of Dodge City, Zacharias earned his undergraduate degree from Wichita State and a master’s in public administration from Kansas University. He began his public service in 1980 as associate director and chief grants officer for the Kansas Arts Commission. In 1984, he became an assistant to the city manager of Lawrence. He was city administrator of Booneville, Mo., from 1988 to 1992, when he became the city manager of Hays.

He and his wife, Marcia, have three children, Lydia, Isabel and Kurt.