Peter McCracken has been named as the next chief administrative officer for the Municipality of Cumberland.
He begins his new duties with the Municipality on Oct. 1, 2026.
He will replace Greg Herrett, who is retiring as CAO on Sep. 30.
“I thank Council for putting their trust in me as their next CAO. We have an excellent Mayor and Council who work well together, have proven they aren’t afraid of difficult conversations, and make good decisions for the people of Cumberland,” McCracken said. “Operationally, we have first-rate employees who work hard and are led by an accomplished senior management team. Those two things reinforce my confidence as I step into this new role.
“We have many challenges ahead, and I look forward to working with Council, our employees and our many partners to achieve great things.”
McCracken joined the Municipality of Cumberland as deputy CAO in September 2022 from the Municipality of Colchester County, where he served as the manager of corporate planning and strategic initiatives.
He led the implementation of Council priorities related to the Clear the Deck report, including the creation of the Municipality’s asset management program, a comprehensive review of the personnel policy manual and an in-depth municipal policy and by-law review.
He also oversaw the transfer of the employee pension program, creation of the communications strategy, the overhaul of the municipal grant policy and programs and the modernization of the Municipality’s IT services.
He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Dalhousie University and a bachelor of recreation degree from Brock University.
Prior to working with the Municipality of Colchester, he worked as the recreation director for the Municipality of Yarmouth and spent 15 years in various roles with the provincial government.
Speaking on behalf of Council, Mayor Rod Gilroy said, “I want to congratulate Peter on his appointment as Chief Administrative Officer for the Municipality of Cumberland. Peter has already demonstrated strong leadership, professionalism, and a deep commitment to our communities during his time as Deputy CAO.
“His experience, collaborative approach, and understanding of municipal operations make him an excellent choice to lead our organization forward. We look forward to working with him as we continue to address challenges and build on opportunities for the residents of Cumberland.”