On behalf of the ICMA Executive Board, I am pleased to announce the selection of Julia D. Novak, ICMA-CM, as ICMA’s new CEO/Executive Director, effective February 24, 2025. Julia was selected through an extensive search and selection process, which culminated with a unanimous vote of the ICMA Executive Board. As ICMA President, I have emphasized the importance of our members and that our members matter, and this was a particular point of emphasis in identifying our next CEO/Executive Director.

Julia brings a wealth of local government experience along with a deep passion for public service and for the profession of local government management and administration. Julia has been an ICMA Credentialed Manager since 2002. She served as a city manager and a deputy city manager. As a successful business owner and senior executive, Julia applied her insights and entrepreneurial drive to build a thriving consulting practice where she and her team have become trusted advisors to counties, cities, villages, towns, townships, boroughs, and special districts with populations ranging from 8,000 to 1.3 million people. Lastly, Julia worked on a global stage supporting local government work in Iraq, China, and Africa.

Her background and proven ability to lead demonstrates that she not only understands the unique role our members serve in local government, but that she also has the entrepreneurial vision to help ICMA continue to evolve and grow. The executive board is confident in her ability to lead ICMA, to serve our members, and to advocate for the important work each of you do every day.

As part of my commitment to transparency with our members, I want to share the process that led to Julia’s hiring. Over the past several months, the ICMA Executive Board worked diligently on the search for ICMA’s next Executive Director/CEO—with the assistance of our search consultant, MGT. The ICMA Executive Board relied heavily on the feedback and guidance of ICMA members, state associations, ICMA staff, affiliate organizations, and other partners. Over 1,000 ICMA members provided direct feedback regarding the most important qualities and qualifications of our next Executive Director/CEO. Applications closed in late 2024 with over 270 candidates expressing interest in the position. Not only did we have a significantly high level of interest, the number of highly qualified candidates who submitted themselves for consideration was truly impressive. The board was excited and honored to have received such a strong response to the opportunity to be ICMA’s next executive director.

Following the receipt of applications, MGT vetted candidates, reviewed application materials, and interviewed the most qualified candidates. In December, MGT provided the ICMA Executive Board’s Executive Search Committee (ESC) with the full list of candidates and a group of top-rated candidates for further review and consideration. In mid-December, the ESC conducted interviews with the highest rated candidates and narrowed the field down to a group of finalists who were interviewed in-person by the full ICMA Executive Board at its meeting in January. In those interviews, Julia emerged as the unanimous choice to lead ICMA.

I want to offer my deep gratitude to ICMA members, ICMA staff, the ICMA Executive Board, the MGT team, and our many partners for their support of this process. And while Julia will provide a message to members and staff once she officially begins serving in her new role, I do want to pass along her response. When offered the position Julia said:

“I am honored to be selected as ICMA’s CEO/Executive Director, and I look forward to working with the talented team of ICMA staff to serve and support our members’ efforts to build thriving communities around the world. I’ve been fortunate to be an ICMA member and to work with ICMA members throughout my career. They do important work that impacts the lives of the people they serve, and I am proud to stand with them and support them in serving their communities and delivering on the promise of democracy at the local level.”

Julia’s knowledge and genuine compassion for local government and for our members was apparent throughout the interview process. For those who know Julia, you know the type of positive energy and passion that she brings, and we are excited for what the future of ICMA holds.