GUYSBOROUGH — The Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG) has made Director of Economic and Community Development Sean O’Connor its new chief administrative officer (CAO), effective Jan. 1, council announced last week.
O’Connor will assume the municipality’s top staff role following the retirement of long-serving CAO Barry Carroll, who is stepping down after 16 years.
In a media release, the municipality said council was pleased with the appointment and cited O’Connor’s professional background and experience within the organization. O’Connor has worked on a range of infrastructure, planning and economic development files during his time with the municipality, where he began as a business development officer in 2023.
“Council is very pleased to have Mr. O’Connor take on his new role as CAO,” MODG Warden Paul Long stated in a press release Dec. 19. “His leadership experience and passion for growth in our communities will be an asset to council, staff and the broader community. We look forward to working together to support the continued success of the Municipality of the District of Guysborough.”
In the same release, O’Connor noted that he also “looked forward to the opportunity to work collaboratively with council, staff and residents of MODG to continue to strengthen our municipal services, advance council’s strategic plan and focus on enhancing quality of life across our municipality.”
In an interview with The Journal, Long said the municipality received approximately 28 applications for the position, which was first advertised in October. He said recruitment firm KPMG was hired to manage the process, including candidate screening, and added that expressions of interest in the job came from across Canada.
From the initial applicant pool, KPMG presented council with a shortlist of candidates. “Once we got [them] all in, we narrowed it down to five, then we narrowed it down to three, and then we hired from that last round,” Long said.
The appointment was made by council, with all eight district representatives participating, he said, stipulating that the outcome was determined by majority vote, consistent with standard governance process.
According to the news release, prior to working for MODG, O’Connor – a professional civil engineer – held leadership roles with the provincial government and in engineering consulting.
“During his tenure at MODG,” the release states, “he has demonstrated extensive experience in team leadership, project management, contract administration, and community development. His proven record of public service and commitment to strong, collaborative governance will support council, staff, and residents as the municipality continues to grow and move forward with key priorities. His leadership style fosters collaboration, excellence, and a team culture where individuals are supported to perform at their highest potential.”
O’Connor’s appointment comes at a time of strong fiscal standing for the municipality. In his final report to council, outgoing CAO Barry Carroll reported that the MODG holds more than $46 million in municipal investments and reserves, including approximately $39 million in investment accounts and about $7 million in a three-year guaranteed investment certificate.
The report also situates the MODG within an active economic development environment, outlining a range of industrial and commercial projects either underway or proposed across the district. These include renewable energy developments, port and logistics infrastructure, mining and quarry operations, green hydrogen and sustainable fuels initiatives, and offshore wind opportunities.
In the news release, the municipality thanked Carroll for his service.
According to Chrstina Bowie, MODG’s manager of special initiatives and communications, O’Connor assumes his new position during the week of January 5, 2026.
