Sund, hired on Wednesday, has worked in NBA front offices for more than 30 years, including stints with Milwaukee, Dallas, Detroit and most recently the SuperSonics.
Sund spent the last year as a consultant for the Sonics after serving as the team's general manager since 2001.
The 56-year-old Sund will replace Billy Knight, who announced on May 7 he is resigning after six years with the Hawks.
Sund inherits a Hawks team that ended the NBA's longest playoff drought this year by making its first postseason appearance since 1999. The Hawks lost to Boston in seven games in the first round.
Sund drew criticism with the Sonics for the lack of success enjoyed by centers he drafted three straight years: Robert Swift in 2004, Johan Petro in 2005 and Mouhamed Sene in 2006.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/5/210354