Seattle appoints Shannon Smith as new CTO

The City of Seattle has appointed Shannon Smith as its next Chief Technology Officer (CTO), bringing an experienced public sector technology leader back into local government as the city continues major digital transformation initiatives.

According to GeekWire, Smith will take up the role on 8 June, succeeding Rob Lloyd, who stepped down in March to become Executive Director of the Center for Digital Government after nearly two years leading Seattle’s technology agenda.

Smith joins from CAI, a technology consulting and services company, where she served as Director of Public Sector, County Government. Her previous roles include senior leadership positions with King County, the City of Bellevue and the City of Seattle. According to her LinkedIn profile, she has extensive experience in technology strategy, digital transformation, cybersecurity, data governance and artificial intelligence, and has advised local governments across the United States on modernisation initiatives.

The appointment comes at a significant moment for Seattle. During Lloyd’s tenure, Seattle IT focused on stabilising major technology programmes and rebuilding confidence in the city’s ability to deliver complex IT projects.

In an interview with Cities Today earlier this year, Lloyd highlighted the successful delivery of several high-profile initiatives, including Workday, Unified Communications and the city’s Criminal Case Management System.

Alongside project delivery, Seattle IT worked to strengthen engagement with departments across city government and establish a more coordinated approach to technology investment. One of Lloyd’s key priorities was aligning technology planning across Seattle’s public safety agencies, including police, fire, emergency management and mental health first responders.

The department also navigated significant financial pressures, absorbing a US$21 million operating budget reduction while maintaining service delivery and advancing strategic technology programmes.

Smith is expected to build on that foundation as Seattle continues to modernise digital services and expand its use of emerging technologies. Her background in AI governance and cybersecurity is likely to prove particularly relevant as cities increasingly explore generative AI applications while balancing security, privacy and public trust considerations.

Before joining CAI, Smith spent more than five years at King County, most recently serving as Chief Information Officer Chief of Staff. In that role, she helped oversee enterprise technology programmes, innovation initiatives and digital service delivery across one of the largest local governments in the Pacific Northwest.

The new CTO will also play a role in supporting preparations for major international events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while helping shape the city’s longer-term technology strategy under Seattle’s new administration.

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