Jackson Baker
Kyle Veazy moderates a political debate.
A shake-up at Memphis City Hall finds a familiar name moving up the ranks in Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland’s adminstration.
Kyle Veazey joined Strickland’s office in 2016. It was a high-profile move from The Commercial Appeal where he’d covered candidate Strickland during the election. Veazey left The CA in 2015 and later joined as the deputy director of communications, working under former WMC anchor Ursula Madden.
Veazey will now serve Strickland as one of two Deputy Chief Operating Officers. A Wednesday statement says Veazey will work with Chief Operating Officer Doug McGowen “to deliver longer-term priority projects, coordinate the city’s role in economic development initiatives, and oversee performance improvement opportunities, among other duties.” Veazey is a 2004 graduate of the University of Mississippi.
City-government veteran Chandell Carr will work with McGowen “for day-to-day service delivery, resource allocation, budgeting, and policy development for all of the city’s divisions, among other duties.” Carr has a law degree from the University of Memphis and has most recently served as the city’s Equity, Diversion & Inclusivity Officer for the Division of Human Resources.
“Chandell and Kyle have been a big part of our work these two-and-a-half years,” Strickland said in a statement. “We recognize and reward talent at the city of Memphis, and I’m proud to watch these two leaders grow as they play even greater roles in continuing our progress.”
Carr and Veazey will transition into their new roles next week.
The jobs became available as current Deputy COO Patrice Thomas left to become the new Chief Administrative Officer of Shelby County government. Thanks to this and an already vacant position in the COO’s office, the moves will not increase the city budget, Strickland said.
