Mayor Andrea Horwath appoints new Hamilton City Manager

HAMILTON, ON – After an extensive search for an inspiring and experienced leader, the City of Hamilton is thrilled to announce the appointment of Marnie Cluckie as its next City Manager.

Ms. Cluckie is currently the Chief Administrative Officer for Niagara-on-the-Lake, where she led many transformative initiatives including service modernization, a redesigned budget process and a customer-centric organizational restructuring, which resulted in a 34 per cent increase in resident satisfaction.

Prior to her leadership role in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ms. Cluckie was a Director in the Strategic Transformation Group for Halton Region, Director of Asset Management for Halton Region, and Chief Building Officer for the Halton Community Housing Corporation. She also worked for Niagara Region as the Director of Construction, Energy & Facilities Management.

Ms. Cluckie is being appointed to the role today as per the provincial Strong Mayor powers, under which the selection of the City Manager is the default responsibility of the Mayor.

The search for the next City Manager began in July, when former City Manager Janette Smith announced her retirement, effective October 31, 2023. The process was supported by an external search firm as well as an interview panel convened by Mayor Horwath, which included six members of Council (each Chair of a Standing Committee as well as Chair of Subcommittee on Governance), along with two members of the public.

City Council was informed of Ms. Horwath’s planned appointment today through a special meeting of Council and an information report outlining the search, interview and reference process, as well as an overview of Ms. Cluckie’s experience, strengths and approach.

Ms. Cluckie’s appointment aligns with the stated priorities of the Mayor and interview panel, including a strong commitment to Hamilton, the ability to provide strategic and transformational leadership, a track record of systems improvement and strong customer service and a robust understanding of the complexities of municipal issues.

Ms. Cluckie will begin her role on January 15, 2024 and will be available to speak with the media at that time.

More about Ms. Cluckie

Ms. Cluckie worked for the City of Hamilton from 2005 – 2015 in a variety of capacities, including Manager, Strategic Planning & Capital Delivery.

Her education includes a Master of Science in Leadership and Organizational Development, a Bachelor of Architecture, and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies. She also has Graduate Certificates in Executive Leadership Coaching and Conflict Management & Mediation, and is currently finishing her Certified Economic Development designation and Master of Business Administration Studies.

As CAO for Niagara-on-the-Lake, she worked with the Mayor, Council and a multidisciplinary team to develop the town’s Strategic Plan, foster productive relationships with community stakeholder groups, and initiate various initiatives to increase performance, transparency, inclusion and intergovernmental advocacy.

During the interview process, Ms. Cluckie demonstrated a deep passion for and understanding of the City of Hamilton, a strategic and comprehensive understanding of the municipal landscape and requirements of the City Manager position, and an inspiring dedication to continuous improvement, systems design, change management and excellence in public service delivery.

She is a strong, clear communicator who presented her thoughts effectively and exercised a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the role.

Quotes