Richmond names acting chief administrative officer, will appoint permanent replacement in June

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Two days after one of the top Richmond officials resigned following less than five months on the job, the next permanent chief administrative officer (CAO) will be announced on June 6.

On Friday, May 23, a spokesperson from the Mayor's Office said Sharon Ebert would serve as the acting CAO, with plans for the new CAO to begin on July 1.

“Sharon has a whip-smart, encyclopedic knowledge of what makes cities work,” said Mayor Danny Avula. “I’m so thankful she’s willing to step in for a short time before our new CAO officially starts. I know we’re in good hands.” 

Brandon Hinton, Henrico County's deputy county manager for administration, will also serve as the acting deputy chief administrative officer, as a result of what the mayor's office is calling "some temporary coverage."

“When I reached out to the County Manager to see if he’d be open to loaning us Brandon for a couple of months, he had absolutely zero hesitation," Avula said. "His willingness to lend a hand and Brandon’s willingness to serve his neighbors in Richmond are a great example of what we can accomplish when we work together."

Richmond City Council is in final negotiations with the new CAO, who will be announced in two weeks, according to the city council.

RELATED: Richmond begins national search for new chief administrative officer

This comes after multiple high-profile exits, and according to the Richmond City Council, final negotiations are taking place.

Sabrina Joy-Hogg took on the role as acting chief administrative officer after previously working worked for the city since 2022. On Wednesday, May 21, she announced her resignation, which came amid notable controversy as a result of multiple citywide issues, including incorrect tax rebate checks and multiple kinds of bills being sent to the wrong people.

Joy-Hogg will serve as interim chief administrative officer and deputy chief administrative officer of finance and administration until June 6.