Sheffield Names Winnie Liao as Detroit's New Chief Operating Officer

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield on Thursday announced the appointment of Winnie Liao as the city’s new Chief Operating Officer, placing a veteran operations leader in charge of day-to-day management across Detroit city government.

As Detroit Chief Operating Officer, Liao will oversee operations for 17 city departments, including transportation, public safety, water and sewerage, and information technology.

The role is central to Sheffield’s administrative agenda, which focuses on improving Detroit public services, reducing delays, and ensuring consistent standards across departments that directly affect residents and businesses in Detroit.

• Winnie Liao appointed to oversee Detroit city operations
• Mayor Mary Sheffield names new COO to drive service reforms
• Detroit targets efficiency, equity and innovation in governance

Liao joins the city from Mastercard, where she served as Vice President of Enterprise Operations. In that role, she managed large-scale operational changes, workplace systems, and internal service models for a global workforce, gaining experience relevant to municipal operations reform. Earlier in her career, she worked with the Michigan Secretary of State, where she helped lead public sector transformation efforts that reduced branch wait times and improved customer service through process redesign and technology updates.

Mayor Mary Sheffield said the Winnie Liao appointment responds to long-standing concerns from residents about slow response times, unclear processes, and uneven service quality. She said Liao’s background in city administration leadership positions her to strengthen Detroit government efficiency using clear performance standards and measurable outcomes.

Alongside the appointment, Sheffield issued an executive directive requiring the COO’s office to present detailed Detroit operational reforms by the second quarter of 2026. The directive identifies four priorities for urban governance Detroit: customer service, efficiency, equity, and innovation.

Also Read: Ex-Norway PM Charged in Gross Corruption Case Tied to Epstein

Liao will begin her role on February 16 and will earn an annual salary of $290,000. Her work will be closely watched within Michigan local government as Detroit advances its next phase of administrative reform.