City CAO Appoints Commissioner of Public Services

Robert Nicolay, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) with the City of Medicine Hat is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Mastel as Commissioner of Public Services. Mastel will replace Karen Charlton, who announced her retirement earlier this month. Mastel has been with the City of Medicine Hat since 2012, and has held the role of Commissioner of Corporate Services since 2014. Prior to that, he was the General Manager of Finance.

“During Brian’s time as Commissioner of Corporate Services, he has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills,” says Robert Nicolay, CAO for the City of Medicine Hat. “His focus on fiscal prudence and improved planning and collaboration across City departments has been invaluable.”

The appointment of Mastel to a new division is part of the City’s ongoing strategy to support leadership development while addressing succession planning. “Developing a leadership team with both depth and breadth is a critical component of this strategy,” says Nicolay.  “Brian’s leadership, along with proven service delivery and business competencies, will transfer effectively into the Public Services Division.”

As the Commissioner of Public Services, Mastel’s portfolio will include Community Development, Parks and Recreation, and Fire Services.

An interim Commissioner of Corporate Services will be determined in the coming weeks, and a comprehensive recruitment process will commence immediately for a permanent replacement. The portfolio includes; Information and Computer Services; Corporate Asset Management; Human Resources; Finance; and Health, Safety, Environment and Emergency Management.

“With a great deal of experience and knowledge behind him, I am confident that Brian will transition into this new role smoothly,” says Nicolay. “He’ll also play an integral role in the recruitment of a new Commissioner of Corporate Services.”

Mastel’s appointment is effective April 1, 2019.