London is in the market for a new city manager.
After more than 35 years with the city, Martin Hayward has announced he will retire from his role at the end of January.
“The city has been a great place to work. There have been lots of challenges, lots of opportunities, and lots of rewards along the way," said Hayward. "Over the past few years, I’ve worked with some great people and put projects and processes in place to make sure the organization is stable and ready for new leadership."
Hayward began working for the city as a janitor at the Hamilton Road Seniors’ Centre in 1984 and worked his way through the ranks over the years. He held roles in human resources and internal audit before he joined the finance division. In 2010, Hayward became city treasurer and chief financial officer.
It was in that role that Hayward developed a strategic financial plan to maintain the city's AAA rating and modernized the budget process, culminating in the creation of the multi-year budget system currently in place.
Hayward was promoted to city manager in 2017. He was instrumental in restoring relations between municipal workers and city hall management after rocky labour negotiations two years earlier.
“We are grateful for the exceptional leadership that Martin has provided throughout his time at the city, and in particular, in his role as city manager,” Mayor Ed Holder said in a statement. “He leads both with his head and with his heart. His commitment to this organization and to the community has been unwavering. It’s reflected in the long list of accomplishments and in the relationships he has built with Council, with employees, and with countless organizations throughout the city.”
The search for Hayward's replacement is expected to begin immediately.