FLINT, Mich. — In late 2017, Mayor Karen Weaver appointed Hughey Newsome to serve as Chief Financial Officer for the City of Flint. City Council approved the recommendation Monday, November 13, 2017.
“I am glad to have Hughey Newsome serve as the Flint’s interim CFO,” said Mayor Weaver. “We appreciate everything those in the Finance Department who have stepped up to handle the financial matters since the last CFO’s contract expired. Now that Hughey is onboard I am confident the department will continue to operate efficiently with progress being made.
Hughey Newsome comes to the City of Flint with over 13 years of experience working in various positions in the field of finance. He most recently worked as a senior manager at MorganFranklin Consulting near Washington, DC. In that position, he worked with a variety of finance units to establish financial systems to improve cash management, increase functionality, and develop processes to achieve time and cost savings. Newsome spent years working as a consultant, advising Fortune 500 clients on procurement strategy and process improvement function. He also worked as a financial analyst supporting cash management, debt compliance and accounting activities at Chrysler Financial Services.
While the bulk of his professional career has been in the private sector, Newsome has devoted much of his personal time becoming involved in civic issues. When he discovered the City of Flint had an opening for a Chief Financial Officer, he saw it as a unique opportunity; a way to fulfill his professional goals and to use his skills and experience to make a difference.
“So many people speak about what should be happening in places like Flint, but too few people are willing to do the work,” said Newsome. “I am ready do the work.”
Newsome is very aware of the financial challenges the City of Flint is faced with. He hopes to implement some of the processes he’s used previously that have produced successful outcomes, to improve Flint’s financial position.
“My vision for this position not only includes making sure the City’s finances are in order, but also finding and implementing out-of-the-box solutions to funding shortages,” Newsome said.
Newsome earned a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School. He also has a master’s degree from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas in electrical engineering.