SF Has Its First Chief of Strategy and Performance

The Facts

Jessica MacLeod has been appointed as San Francisco's first Chief of Strategy and Performance, according to J.D. Morris at The Chronicle.

MacLeod, who started Tuesday, will work across city departments to establish measurable goals and use data to ensure the $16 billion annual budget is spent effectively. The role focuses on creating a "culture of continuous improvement and innovation" while overhauling existing systems.

The Context

MacLeod's background in crisis-driven government efficiency makes her uniquely qualified for this accountability role. She co-founded U.S. Digital Response, a nonprofit that deployed technology solutions to help governments respond effectively during the pandemic, serving over 400 state and local agencies. The organization focused on rapid deployment of data systems, streamlined processes, and measurable outcomes—exactly the skills San Francisco needs to reform its bureaucracy. MacLeod also served as San Rafael's director of digital services, bringing over 15 years of government technology and operations experience.

She becomes the fifth policy chief in Lurie's reorganized mayor's office structure, joining housing and economic development chief Ned Segal, infrastructure chief Alicia John-Baptiste, health and human services chief Kunal Modi, and public safety chief Paul Yep.

The GrowSF Take

You can't improve what you don't measure, and for too long San Francisco has operated without the systematic measurement and accountability that effective governance requires.

MacLeod's experience helping hundreds of governments rapidly deploy effective systems during the pandemic proves she can cut through bureaucratic obstacles to deliver results. Her U.S. Digital Response work demonstrated how data-driven approaches and streamlined processes can transform government performance even under crisis conditions. This is precisely the expertise San Francisco needs to overhaul its own systems and create accountability across departments.