City of Saint John celebrates Brent McGovern’s legacy as CAO prepares for new chapter

The City of Saint John confirms that Chief Administrative Officer Brent McGovern has announced his decision to step down from his role in the coming months.

Mr. McGovern has served the City for more than 20 years in a variety of leadership roles and has been CAO since 2022. Under his leadership, the City has advanced major development projects, strengthened community partnerships, and delivered meaningful improvements in infrastructure, housing, recreation, and employee engagement.

“Serving as CAO has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I leave confident in the strength of our organization and the leadership team that will continue to guide it,” says Mr. McGovern. “I know the momentum we are seeing across the city will carry forward, making Saint John an even better place to live, work, and grow.”

“As I reflect on my time with the City, I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished together: setting new records on development and growth in our community, the Safe Clean Drinking Water Project, the Housing for All strategy, the opening of Ihtoli-maqahamok, the strengthening of the City's financial position, meaningful infrastructure improvements across the City, recreation enhancements, increased employee engagement, and significant progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion, among many others.”

Mayor Donna Noade Reardon commended Mr. McGovern’s leadership, stating, “Brent has played a pivotal role in shaping some of the most transformative initiatives in our city’s history. His thoughtful leadership and collaborative approach have propelled Saint John forward, creating lasting benefits for generations to come. The foundation he helped build is strong, and his legacy will continue to inspire the path ahead. He will be tremendously missed and will leave behind big shoes to fill.”

The City extends its sincere appreciation to Mr. McGovern for his years of dedicated service and many contributions to Saint John. A strong team remains in place, and Common Council will move forward with a process to determine the City’s next CAO in due course.