Christopher J. Brady, city manager of Mesa, announced today that he will retire on May 31, 2025, concluding a 19-year tenure leading the nation’s 36th largest city. Brady will transition to a new role as a mission leader for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

As chief administrative officer of Arizona’s third-largest city since 2006, Brady has overseen Mesa’s evolution into a municipality of more than 500,000 residents, managing approximately 4,000 employees and an annual operating and capital budget of $2.6 billion, according to a release.

“It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve Mesa. I have had the privilege of working alongside many dedicated Mesa employees to bring the vision of our Mayors and Councilmembers to life,” Brady said in the release. “Throughout my tenure in Mesa, my guiding principles have been knowledge, respect, and integrity. I hope that by upholding these values, I have made a positive difference in the lives of our residents and employees. It has truly been a great experience.”

He successfully steered Mesa through challenging economic periods and a pandemic while implementing innovative financial strategies, including the passage of several capital bond initiatives for parks, streets and public safety, the release states.

Prior to his service in Mesa, Brady had more than a decade of municipal leadership experience. He worked as assistant city manager of San Antonio for 10 years and held executive management positions in Bellaire and Houston, Texas, and Provo, Utah.

Brady announced the news this morning in a farewell letter to employees. He will work with the mayor and City Council in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition as they select Mesa’s next city manager, the release states.