Saint John continues search for new CAO

Saint John is continuing its search for a new chief administrative officer as the city moves through a period of leadership transition.

Mayor Donna Noade Reardon said the demands of the CAO position have grown in recent years, noting that the pace of communication and the scope of city operations have made it a round‑the‑clock role.

“That job has changed over time,” she said. “You have social media, and you have email now, so it’s a 24/7 job today.”

Reardon said the city has brought in an external recruitment firm to support the search for a permanent replacement.

“We’re casting the net wide, and we’ll see what we come up with,” she said.

The position became vacant after former CAO Brent McGovern announced in October 2025 that he would be stepping down.

RELATED: Saint John CAO Brent McGovern to step down

The city is currently being led by interim CAO Kevin Fudge, who stepped into the role late last year.

Reardon said the next CAO will play a central role in managing day‑to‑day operations, supporting long‑term planning and guiding major projects already underway.

She added that updates on the recruitment process will be shared as the search progresses.