Michael Russell Sr. leads H. J. Russell & Company, the Atlanta construction and program-management business founded by his father, Herman J. Russell. A Council for Quality Growth tribute identifies Michael and his siblings, Donata Russell Ross and H. Jerome Russell, as an African American family working across construction, real estate and airport concessions.
Michael earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Georgia State University. He joined H. J. Russell & Company in 1990. Before becoming chief executive, he served in executive positions that included responsibility for the construction and program-management divisions, operating experience that preceded his appointment to the company's top role in 2003. A professional event biography dates the succession to October 2003, when he followed his father as chief executive, and records his work as vice chairman of Concessions International, the family's airport food-and-beverage business.
At H. J. Russell & Company, projects have spanned areas including housing, healthcare, sports facilities and student accommodation. The current leadership page identifies separate executives responsible for construction, program management, finance and other functions. The company's completed buildings reflect the work of many employees, trade contractors, designers and partners.
In a 2024 SaportaReport interview, Michael discussed why partnerships remained important to the company's growth. He described partners as bringing additional resources and expertise while sharing risk, and distinguished family ownership from family management: a business that could remain family-owned while being run by a wider leadership team.
The Russell family received the Council for Quality Growth's Four Pillar Tribute in October 2024. Michael and Jerome accepted the honor on the family's behalf, with Donata participating through the program's video. In March 2025, Michael was also an American Journey Award honoree of the Ron Brown Scholar Program, a recognition set in a context of education and opportunity.
