The Georgia Lottery Corp. board of directors today named Debbie Dlugolenski Alford as president and CEO of the Georgia Lottery.

Dlugolenski Alford currently serves as the chief financial officer and director of the Office of Planning and Budget for the state of Georgia. She served three years on the Georgia Lottery board of directors.

“I am confident that Mrs. Dlugolenski Alford will do an excellent job leading the Georgia Lottery,” said Georgia Lottery Board Chair James F. Braswell. “She has the experience and leadership skills necessary to build on the lottery’s past achievements and guide the organization to future success.”

Margaret R. DeFrancisco announced in August her plans to retire as president and CEO of the Georgia Lottery.

The board of directors voted unanimously Thursday to name Dlugolenski Alford as DeFrancisco’s successor.

Dlugolenski Alford will become the third president and CEO in the Georgia Lottery’s 19-year history. She is scheduled to start in approximately two weeks.

Dlugolenski Alford is married to former Rockdale's former state representative Dean Alford. Dean Alford was recently appointed to the Board of Regents, which oversees the state's university system, for the fourth district and also chairs the Miracle League.