City Manager Names New CFO, CIO, and Chief Innovation Officer

“Kathleen, Steen and Michael all have a solid track record of serving the interests of our residents at the highest level, including spending wisely, taking an innovative approach to issues facing our city, and engaging the community to be part of the solution,” said Zuercher. “They each bring unique skills and experiences that will enhance our diverse executive leadership team.”

Chief Financial Officer Kathleen Gitkin

As Chief Financial Officer, Gitkin will be responsible for all aspects of the city’s fiscal portfolio, including debt management, capital financing, treasury services, procurement, tax and licensing, and the acquisition and management of the city’s real estate holdings, as well ensuring the city retains its excellent bond rating. Gitkin has served as acting chief financial officer since July 16, 2021.

Gitkin began her city career in 2004 as an accountant and advanced to the assistant finance director position before being named acting CFO. During her city career, she has managed a wide range of accounting and financial functions and is widely known by the city’s banking and financial partners and bond-rating agencies for her exceptional work on the city’s behalf. Gitkin holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from New Mexico State University and a Master of Business Administration from University of Phoenix. She has served on the City of Phoenix Employee Retirement System board, the Phoenix Community Development and Investment Corporation board, and the Deferred Compensation Board, and is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association.

Chief Information Officer Steen Hambric

As Chief Information Officer, Steen Hambric will be responsible for leading the city’s Information Technology Services (ITS) department and federated IT management services over Sky Harbor International Airport, Water Services, Phoenix Police, and Phoenix Fire. Hambric has over 33 years of IT experience at the federal and local levels, with 17 of those years in executive leadership. Since 2017, he has championed many large-scale city projects including a multi-year, citywide telephone and network project upgrade and has implemented several initiatives with COVID-related federal dollars to bring free Internet connectivity to residents throughout Phoenix. Hambric has served as acting chief information officer since May 14, 2021.

As acting CIO, Hambric has focused on fostering coordination and collaboration among city departments for citywide IT projects and initiatives, strengthening the city’s cybersecurity, and drafting the city’s first Strategic Technology Plan in over a decade, to prioritize financial and personnel resources as well as key IT initiatives. Before arriving in Phoenix, Hambric worked for the United States House of Representatives for 18 years in high-level information technology leadership positions. He also served for 11 years as a Combat Engineer Officer for the Army National Guard and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Management Information Systems, from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Chief Innovations Officer, Michael Hammett

As the city’s first Chief Innovation Officer, Hammett will work from the City Manager’s Office to continue building on the city’s 2021 Gold certification from What Works Cities, the national standard of excellence for data-driven, well-managed local government. He will continue to lead Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge initiatives, performance measurement reporting and dashboard projects, and other citywide innovation efforts. Hammett has led the citywide What Works Cities process since 2017, multiple Cities of Service-funded initiatives to foster resiliency in under-invested communities, and has led the Phoenix team that was named one of 24 Champion Cities in the 2018 Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, and most recently as one of 50 Champion Cities in the 2021 Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Mayors Challenge. The Mayors Challenge is a competition to identify and implement innovative solutions to the most pressing issues facing cities around the world.

After an award-winning career in local television, Michael joined the city of Phoenix in 2006 as a public information officer, serving in various departments and as the communication’s lead for the Phoenix City Council. He recently served for six years as the Chief Service Officer, before his most recent role as deputy communications director.  Hammett holds a BA in Broadcasting from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at ASU and in 2015 completed a Master of Science in Global Technology and Development from ASU’s School for the Future of Innovation in Society (SFIS), College of Global Futures. He is a founding alumni board member for both the SFIS and the newly established College of Global Futures, and serves on the Arizona Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteering.