North Charlotte Today

The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners has appointed Mike Bryant as the new County Manager. This decision concludes a comprehensive national search and comes after the announcement of the current County Manager, Dena R. Diorio, to retire by June 30, 2025. Bryant brings more than 30 years of public service experience, having served as the Deputy County Manager for Mecklenburg County and joining the county in 2003.

In his current role, Bryant oversees financial services, internal support, the Financial Services Department, the Office of the Tax Collector, the County Assessor’s Office, Information Technology, and Human Resources. He is also in charge of the American Rescue Plan Act funding management and the County’s enterprise risk management strategy.

Bryant's previous roles include working for the City of Durham, Duke University, Granville County, and the North Carolina Office of the Governor. He was promoted to Director of the Office of Management and Budget in 2014 and then to Deputy County Manager in 2020.

As County Manager, Bryant will be responsible for overseeing county departments and agencies that provide services to over 1.1 million residents. He will be tasked with preparing the annual budget, currently over $2.5 billion, and implementing the priorities of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners.

Mark Jerrell, the Mecklenburg County Board Chair, expressed confidence in Bryant, saying, “Having Deputy County Manager Bryant serve as our next County manager will allow for a seamless transition, especially given his extensive executive leadership experience, his knowledge of our community, along with his 20-plus years of budgetary and finance expertise.”

Bryant shared his goals, stating, “Honoring the County’s legacy of excellent service to our residents is my number one aim, and to continue to build on the strong foundation our current County manager, Dena R. Diorio, has entrusted to each of us. I intend to enhance those services, improve efficiency, and support community growth.”

Bryant’s future initiatives include collaborating with the Mecklenburg County Commissioners to achieve board priorities, such as health equity, wellness, education, and economic development. He also aims to cooperate with local partners such as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Central Piedmont Community College on community issues.

Expressing gratitude for the appointment, Bryant said, “I am honored to serve as the next County manager, which has been my goal since joining Mecklenburg County as a management and budget analyst in 2003 and rising through the system to my most recent role as deputy County manager. I would like to thank our dedicated Mecklenburg County Commissioners for their vote of confidence in appointing me to this vital community role. I remain dedicated to serving the entire community that has been home to my family and me for the past 22 years.”

Bryant holds a bachelor's degree and a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University. He has held various leadership roles, including past president of the Government Finance Officers Association and member of the MEDIC Board of Commissioners.