Houston Mayor Whitmire Names New Houston Public Works Director

November 20, 2024

Randy Macchi to lead the largest accredited Public Works agency in the country 

HOUSTON - Today, at city council, Mayor John Whitmire appointed Randy Macchi to lead Houston Public Works as its next Director.

Randy has nearly 24 years of experience as a corporate executive and attorney. He joined Houston Public Works in March 2023 as Houston Public Works' Chief Operating Officer (COO) and has served in an expanded role leading the department alongside Interim Director and City Engineer Richard Smith since April 2024.

An accomplished leadership development coach and award-winning public speaker, Randy is also a certified Mediator in the state of Texas and an Inductee of the National Order of Barristers. Randy graduated with a Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center and a Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University.

“As mayor, I pride myself on the appointments I’ve made. You find talent in watching people working in other positions,” said Mayor John Whitmire. “As Randy led the department during Hurricane Beryl and the derecho, I observed how responsive he is during emergencies and every day. He was resolving issues during the storm and in the many days that followed. Randy exemplifies the leadership we expect. He's going to make Houston Public Works better and I'm excited to see him serve Houstonians for years to come."

“I’m honored and grateful for the mayor’s confidence in my leadership. I want to thank the 3,900 public servants within Houston Public Works whose dedication sets the strong foundation for Houston to thrive. I’m grateful for their support,” said Macchi. “We’re going to deliver on the challenges we face, and we know we have a lot of work to do. I’m excited for the opportunity in front of us to deliver substantial change.”

Macchi’s appointment is immediate. He replaces Carol Haddock, who retired earlier this year. Randy’s appointment follows a unanimous City Council vote today approving an ordinance change that removed the requirement for the Houston Public Works Director to be a licensed Professional Engineer (PE). It’s now part of an optional qualification for the role. Macchi will work alongside the City Engineer, who will sign off on engineering-related decisions. The ordinance change broadens the pool of qualified candidates, enabling the City to select the best person for the role based on leadership, expertise, and vision. This amendment, supported by local and state organizations, reflects a forward-thinking approach to addressing the challenges of a modern public works department.