Richmond begins national search for new chief administrative officer
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond Mayor-elect Danny Avula is casting a nationwide net to replace Lincoln Saunders -- the city's chief administrative officer -- following his recent resignation. Saunders will leave the role effective Dec. 31, according to Avula, who previously thanked him for his eight years of city service in a Dec. 10 press release. In his four years as chief administrative officer, Saunders led City Hall, managing Richmond's day-to-day governmental operations. In a Friday, Dec. 13, press release, Avula's office announced that a national search has begun for the person to fill those shoes. Said search will be led by the Robert Bobb Group, in partnership with PoliHire, which hopes to select a candidate within the first half of 2025. Notably, Robert Bobb previously served as the Richmond City Manager for over a decade. MORE ON AVULA: Mayor-elect Danny Avula sits down with 8News to talk future plans for Richmond “Richmonders deserve top-level talent who will lead an effective and accountable City Hall," Avula said in the release. "This is an incredible opportunity that I know will attract truly remarkable candidates, and I can’t wait to add the right person to my team.” The job listing will be posted within the first week of January 2025, according to the release. While this search continues, as of Jan. 1, 2025, senior deputy chief administrative officer Sabrina Joy-Hogg will serve as interim chief administrative officer. Additionally, Avula also announced his pick for his Chief of Staff on Friday. According to the release, his campaign manager Lawson Wijesooriya will take on the role. Can I decorate my car with holiday lights in Virginia? “Lawson brings a decade and a half of experience developing and implementing strategies to lift up Richmond’s most vulnerable residents through her non-profit work,” Avula said in the release. “She shares my values, demonstrated her incredible leadership abilities during my campaign and knows how to get things done. She's the first piece of the excellent, high-capacity team I’m putting together and I’m proud to serve my neighbors alongside her in City Hall. We’re both ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond Mayor-elect Danny Avula is casting a nationwide net to replace Lincoln Saunders -- the city's chief administrative officer -- following his recent resignation.
Saunders will leave the role effective Dec. 31, according to Avula, who previously thanked him for his eight years of city service in a Dec. 10 press release. In his four years as chief administrative officer, Saunders led City Hall, managing Richmond's day-to-day governmental operations.
In a Friday, Dec. 13, press release, Avula's office announced that a national search has begun for the person to fill those shoes. Said search will be led by the Robert Bobb Group, in partnership with PoliHire, which hopes to select a candidate within the first half of 2025.
Notably, Robert Bobb previously served as the Richmond City Manager for over a decade.
MORE ON AVULA: Mayor-elect Danny Avula sits down with 8News to talk future plans for Richmond
“Richmonders deserve top-level talent who will lead an effective and accountable City Hall," Avula said in the release. "This is an incredible opportunity that I know will attract truly remarkable candidates, and I can’t wait to add the right person to my team.”
The job listing will be posted within the first week of January 2025, according to the release.
While this search continues, as of Jan. 1, 2025, senior deputy chief administrative officer Sabrina Joy-Hogg will serve as interim chief administrative officer.
Additionally, Avula also announced his pick for his Chief of Staff on Friday. According to the release, his campaign manager Lawson Wijesooriya will take on the role.
Can I decorate my car with holiday lights in Virginia?
“Lawson brings a decade and a half of experience developing and implementing strategies to lift up Richmond’s most vulnerable residents through her non-profit work,” Avula said in the release. “She shares my values, demonstrated her incredible leadership abilities during my campaign and knows how to get things done. She's the first piece of the excellent, high-capacity team I’m putting together and I’m proud to serve my neighbors alongside her in City Hall. We’re both ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
