Tag: Chief Information Officer

SANTA MONICA—On Thursday, June 20, Santa Monica City Manager David White announced the appointment of Feroz Merchhiya as chief information officer to lead the city’s Information Services Department, following a nationwide recruitment.

Merchhiva started his career at Oracle Corporation and has over 2 years of experience in digital transformation, innovation and technology. He recently held the position as chief information officer and chief information security officer for the city of Glendale, Arizona. He previously led strategic service delivery and technology solutions for Kaygen Incorporated.

“Technology is the cornerstone of city services and operations,” White said. “With Feroz’s wealth of experience in enterprise technology and information security, I’m confident he will build on our information services department’s great work towards even more improvements for our residents and businesses.”

Merchhiya will be responsible for Santa Monica’s strategic use of technology and cybersecurity to enhance community experience, leverage data, provide insights and improve services. He will lead the city in implementing strategic technology initiatives in line with the department’s mission to empower people, connect the community and develop solutions to support a digitally literate city.

“I am thrilled to join the team of dedicated civic leaders at Santa Monica,” Merchhiya said. “I look forward to leveraging my skills and experience to serve the community, and collaborating with key partners and stakeholders to ensure we embrace the latest technological advancements to deliver streamlined services for all.”

He holds a master’s degree in business administration from National University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Karachi University. He will join the city effective July 15, 2024 with an annual salary of $253,674.

By Trevor

SANTA MONICA—On Monday, November 6, the Santa Monica City Manager David White announced the appointment of Paula Crowell as chief information officer to lead the city’s Information Services Department, after a nationwide recruitment.

The city reported on its website that Crowell has over 20 years of experience in information technology, and previously served as the director of information services for the Long Beach Utilities Department. She previously served as the IT manager for the city of Temecula and as IT director for the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission in Washington, D.C.

“Technology is a cornerstone that allows us to serve the community more efficiently and effectively,” said White. “Paula is a talented and experienced leader who brings a wealth of hands-on technical knowledge. With her at the helm, I’m confident the department will continue to find innovative ways to enhance and streamline city services.”

Her position will require Crowell to oversee a team of 50 city staff members and a budget of $13 million. The position will include training and support services, the city website, cybersecurity, software engineering, the Santa Monica mobile app, the city’s open data program and CityNet municipal broadband services.

“I’m eager to use my skills and expertise to drive innovation, digital transformation, and efficient technology solutions to address the city’s challenges and enhance the quality of life in Santa Monica,” said Crowell. “I look forward to collaborating with the talented city team and partnering with the community to ensure Santa Monica continues to be a model of innovation and sustainability in the digital age.”

She holds a bachelor’s degree in information systems from the University of Maryland and will start her new position on December 18 with a yearly salary of $223, 836.

By Trevor