Aug. 6, 2014

Harry Black Appointed Cincinnati's Next City Manager

Today, City Council voted to unanimously approve the appointment of Harry Black as the 15th City Manager of the City of Cincinnati. He will begin on Sept. 8, 2014.

“I am humbled and honored to have been chosen," Black said. "I want to thank Mayor Cranley and the City Council for this incredible opportunity. The magnitude of this assignment is not lost on me. I plan to give all I have to the City of Cincinnati. I look forward to getting to know the entire City workforce. This is a city on the rise, and I pledge to work in partnership with all segments of our community to keep this great momentum going. On behalf of my family, I want to express our gratitude to the entire Cincinnati community for your hospitality and warm welcome. We are looking forward to becoming full-fledged Cincinnatians.” 

Mayor Cranley added, “I am thankful that City Council unanimously supported my nominee for City Manager, Harry Black. With Mr. Black’s leadership and expertise, I am confident we can accomplish great things in the future. This is an exciting time for Cincinnati.”

Black was raised in Baltimore, and returned to serve as the Finance Director of the City, a role he has held since January of 2012. During this time, he has overseen an All-Funds Budget of $3.3 billion, and saw Baltimore’s bond and appropriation-backed debt rates significantly improve.

One direct contributor to the City of Baltimore’s improved ratings was the 10-year financial plan Change to Grow created through a process led by Black and his office.

Before working to improve Baltimore’s finances, Black held the position of Executive Vice President at Global Commerce Solutions Inc. in Washington D.C. for four years. At Global Commerce, Black was a key leader in developing Cleveland’s Job Corps center and in supporting work visas at the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor Certification.

Between 2005 and 2008, Black served as the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Richmond, Va. His duties included managing Richmond’s daily financial operations and a $1.2 billion All-Funds Budget.

In Richmond, Black led an effort to renovate a dilapidated theatre into a state-of-the-art performing center. He also created two economic development programs, Commercial Paper Bond Anticipation Notes and RichmondWorks.

Black’s extensive public service also includes: the New York City Transit Authority, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New York City’s Mayor’s Office of Contracts and the District of Columbia’s City Council. Black has served on multiple boards of directors. He is a member of the Virginia State University Board of Visitors, the Municipal Bonds for America Executive Committee, the Baltimore City Foundation Board of Directors, the Baltimore Development Corporation Board of Directors, the Baltimore City Golf Corporation Board of Directors and the Parking Authority of Baltimore City Board of Directors.

He is the chair of the Baltimore City Deferred Compensation Committee and the Baltimore City Hotel Corporation Board of Directors, and the rector of the Virginia State University Board of Visitors.

Black holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from Virginia State University, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Virginia.

Black and his wife Sheryl are the proud parents of a son and daughter.