The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved the appointment of Joseph M. Nicchitta as Chief Executive Officer of Los Angeles County effective immediately. Nicchitta has served as Acting and then Interim Chief Executive Officer since October 2025.

As Chief Executive Officer, Nicchitta has responsibility for overseeing the County’s $52.5 billion budget, including federal and state advocacy efforts to protect public safety net services and cross-departmental planning to sustain the County’s finances through a number of budgetary challenges.

In addition, Nicchitta maintains labor relations with the County’s 64 bargaining units representing more than 84,000 employees and is charged with the successful implementation of key priorities of the Board of Supervisors. Other primary areas of focus include support for rebuilding wildfire-impacted communities and planning for major regional events such as the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games—both of which will require countywide coordination to ensure public safety as LA County welcomes visitors from around the world.

“I am honored by the Board’s appointment,” said CEO Nicchitta. “The County faces unprecedented challenges that will require difficult decisions, clear priorities, and a renewed commitment to working collaboratively to meet the needs of the communities we serve. My priority is to protect our core safety net services while safeguarding the County’s long-term financial stability.”

“Joe Nicchitta brings the experience, leadership, and institutional knowledge needed to serve Los Angeles County at this critical moment. Through his work across County departments and major initiatives, he understands how essential County services and safety net programs are to residents’ daily lives. From leading COVID-19 recovery efforts and supporting the Emergency Intake Site (EIS) for unaccompanied children in Pomona—an effort my office worked closely with him on—to advancing consumer protections, tenant protections, and small business support, he has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to public service and effective governance. He is the reason we are turning a new chapter with our County labor partners, grounded in collaboration and shared purpose. I am confident he will continue strengthening County operations and delivering results for the people we serve,” said Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis.

“I am proud to join my colleagues in approving the appointment of Joseph M. Nicchitta as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Nicchitta’s decades of experience serving the County in key leadership roles have prepared him well to oversee the critical operations that keep our County running efficiently and to lead at this pivotal time. I look forward to continuing to work together on delivering the essential safety net services that millions of our residents rely on” said Second District Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell.

“Joe has demonstrated tremendous leadership, care, and commitment to the people of Los Angeles County — both within County government and throughout the communities we serve,” said Third District Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “He brings deep experience managing complex Countywide operations, and he leads with a calm, pragmatic, and solutions-oriented approach that is especially important in this moment. As our County continues addressing disaster recovery, homelessness, infrastructure, and long-term resilience, Joe’s steady leadership will help move this work forward with accountability and focus.”

“Joe Nicchitta is the steady hand we need as the County faces unprecedented challenges,” said Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Our budgets are stretched thin, but at the same time our residents are counting on us more than ever. Joe is experienced, capable, and understands the County’s role as a safety net for people at the end of their ropes financially, physically, and mentally. It is important that he has stepped up to guide the County during these difficult times.”

“Our County needs steady-handed leadership at this critical moment, and I believe Joseph Nicchitta is the right person to lead our County forward as CEO,” said Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “Joe has demonstrated a deep understanding of County operations and a collaborative approach to problem-solving. I look forward to working with him as we continue addressing the complex challenges facing our communities and strengthening public trust in County government.”

Prior to stepping into the role of Acting CEO last October and beginning in 2020, Nicchitta served as Chief Deputy Chief Executive Officer/Chief Operating Officer. In this position, he provided operational, administrative and programmatic leadership for many of the County’s highest profile initiatives and played a central role in the County’s pandemic response and recovery, including the planning, allocation and distribution of more than $2 billion in federal relief funding.

From May 2018 to August 2020, Nicchitta was the Director of the County’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, where he led development and adoption of the Board-approved rent stabilization program for the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County and helped advance the OneLA Initiative, a public-private partnership supporting small, minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses in competing for government contracts.

Earlier, he served within the Chief Executive Office to lead the Office of Cannabis Management following the 2016 legalization of commercial and personal-use cannabis under Proposition 64.

Nicchitta began his County career in 2012 in the Office of County Counsel, working primarily on land use and environmental matters, affordable housing, First Amendment and Establishment Clause issues, public and civic art, and museum law, after practicing as a litigation attorney in private practice.

Nicchitta earned a Juris Doctor from the New York University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Berkeley.

Additional assets:

• Download Nicchitta’s official portrait
• View Nicchitta’s biography
• Download the Board Letter