Denver’s new CDO to drive data driven innovations

The City and County of Denver has appointed Sean Greer as its new Chief Data Officer (CDO), entrusting him with the mission to transform Denver’s data assets into actionable insights that improve city operations and citizen experiences.

Greer brings extensive experience, having served as Denver’s IT Director of Service Delivery for five years and held various roles at Denver International Airport over a twelve-year span.

“To improve city services we’ll utilise data to make better decisions, predict future needs, and improve citizen experiences,” Greer told Cities Today. “By collaborating with city agencies and prioritising data quality, we can make Denver a better place to live.”

Suma Nallapati, Denver’s Chief Information Officer, highlighted Greer’s strong track record.

“Sean is a seasoned technology leader who excels at driving innovation, strategic planning, and operational excellence,” Nallapati said. “With a proven record in technology and data management, he will be instrumental in advancing data-driven decision-making and accelerating the city’s digital transformation.”

Greer’s approach as CDO will focus on developing a data strategy aligned with Denver’s strategic goals, emphasising data quality, security, and governance to drive meaningful, data-supported change across city services.

Greer’s recent work includes spearheading Denver’s Automation Center of Excellence, a programme that won the Colorado Technology Association’s 2024 Apex Project of the Year award and a 2024 CIO 100 award, while saving the city US$2.9 million and over 54,000 hours of staff time.

“Our goal is to let robots be transactional so our staff can be transformative, thus increasing the efficiency and availability of city services,” Greer explained. “The programme places a strong emphasis on empowering city employees to do more impactful work by shedding transactional duties. Our data strategy will embrace some of the same objectives of improving city services and providing valuable information to focus our efforts on what is most impactful.”

Looking ahead, Greer’s immediate focus will be on understanding the current state of Denver’s data landscape and establishing strong relationships with city leaders to encourage a collaborative, data-driven approach to decision-making.

He also emphasised the importance of robust data governance.

“Data quality, security, and compliance are foundational to any successful data strategy,” he said. “By prioritising these foundational elements, we can unlock the full potential of our data and drive innovation across the city.”

Drawing from his experiences within Technology Services and Denver International Airport, Greer also brings a unique perspective on fostering collaboration.

“[Both roles] have provided me with a unique blend of technical expertise and operational understanding.” he added. “I am committed to a data-driven approach that leverages technology to improve both internal operations and external city services. I will prioritise innovation and continuous improvement, encouraging a culture of experimentation and learning from both successes and failures.”

Image: City and County of Denver