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The Tysons Community Alliance has appointed Drew Sunderland as interim chief executive officer as Katie Cristol prepares to leave the organization after three years to pursue new professional opportunities.

Cristol led the alliance through a period of growth and organizational development, expanding placemaking programs, building stronger ties with the business community and advancing efforts to market Tysons as a destination for residents, workers and visitors.

David Schneider, chair of the alliance’s board of directors, said Cristol helped establish the organization as an important convener of public- and private-sector partners involved in shaping Tysons’ future.

Sunderland moves into the interim role from his position as vice president of strategy and research. The board cited his role in directing the alliance’s strategy and bringing data-driven analysis into its decision-making.

“Tysons stands as one of the most important economic centers in the National Capital Region,” Sunderland said. “I’m honored to step into this role and work with our public and private sector partners to build on the district’s strong momentum and continue positioning Tysons as a vibrant, globally competitive urban center.”

Sunderland is the longest-serving staff member across both the Tysons Community Alliance and its predecessor, the Tysons Partnership. His work has focused on the district’s strategic direction and collaboration among public- and private-sector organizations.

He also led the development of the Tysons DataHub and Tysons Quarterly Market Reports, which track market performance, visitation patterns and investment activity in the district.

Schneider said Sunderland’s knowledge of Tysons and experience with research and analytics position him to lead the organization during the transition.

The alliance plans to continue working with Fairfax County, regional organizations and businesses on placemaking, destination marketing and data-based initiatives intended to support investment and strengthen Tysons as a regional center for business, innovation and community.

The leadership announcement comes just before the alliance’s Vision Tysons Development and Investment Summit, where public- and private-sector leaders are scheduled to discuss market conditions, investment opportunities and the district’s long-term growth strategy.