West Hollywood to Welcome a Familiar Face as Next City Manager

The City of West Hollywood is turning a meaningful page in its civic story. The next chapter begins with fresh executive leadership from someone who knows the City inside and out.

At its meeting on Monday, December 1, 2025, the West Hollywood City Council proudly announced that current Assistant City Manager Jackie Rocco has been selected to serve as the City’s next City Manager.

Following approval of an employment agreement at the Monday, December 15, 2025, City Council meeting, Rocco will assume the role in January 2026, succeeding current City Manager David Wilson upon his retirement.

The City conducted an extensive national search for this critical leadership position. After reviewing more than 70 applicants from across the country and engaging in a months-long interview process, the City Council determined that the strongest candidate was already here at home in West Hollywood.

For many in West Hollywood, this moment represents more than a transition. It also reflects continuity, trust, and the deep-rooted commitment of a City leader who has grown alongside the community she has served for nearly two decades.

“For all of us in West Hollywood who have had the joy of knowing and working with Jackie, this selection is especially meaningful,” said Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers. “Jackie brings unmatched dedication to our community and the expertise to guide our future. We’re confident we’ve chosen the very best person to lead us forward.”

Rocco’s professional experience is a blueprint of exemplary local government leadership. She brings more than 27 years of executive-level experience, including nearly 18 years serving the community in West Hollywood.

She joined the City in 2008 as Parking Operations Manager, where she reshaped on-street and off-street parking programs and improved taxi and permit parking systems. She later moved into the Economic Development Department as Business Development Manager before becoming Director of Public Works, overseeing Engineering, Code Enforcement, and Parking Services.

Her growing responsibilities eventually propelled her into the City’s Deputy City Manager role, coordinating complex development impacts and overseeing major City departments. Today, as Assistant City Manager, she provides strategic direction across the organization, ensuring that City services are responsive, efficient, and centered around community needs.

Rocco’s calm, collaborative, and forward-thinking leadership has shaped internal organizational change initiatives and helped advance leadership development efforts. She has completed the California City Management Foundation’s New & Future City Managers Seminar and she is completing a capstone project for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Leadership Program, milestones that underscore her readiness to step into the City Manager role.

Before joining the City, Rocco built a strong foundation of private-sector and regional government experience, holding senior leadership roles in operations, information technology services, business process improvement, and housing programs. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

As the City of West Hollywood continues to evolve, Rocco is poised to lead a range of important initiatives outlined in the City’s WeHo40 Strategic Plan. Her deep institutional knowledge paired with her collaborative approach, steady leadership style, and enduring passion for the community position her to help write the City’s next chapter with purpose and strong connection to the core values that make West Hollywood so vibrant and special.