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City of Fayetteville hires new chief information officer

By Staff Report, posted Jun 4, 2025 on BizFayetteville.com

The City of Fayetteville has hired Willie Henry to lead its Information Technology Department. He assumed the role on May 26. 

As the City’s Chief Information Officer (CIO), Henry will oversee a $8.8 million budget and lead the administration and operations of Fayetteville’s Information Technology Department. This includes oversight of network infrastructure, telephony, GIS management, business intelligence, desktop support services, project management, and the management of servers, applications and network infrastructure supporting the city’s E-911 communications systems. 

“Willie brings over 30 years of experience in public & private sector innovation, enterprise technology leadership, and infrastructure modernization,” City Manager Douglas Hewett said in a press release. “He has a strong track record of effective staff management and development within the IT workspace, and we’re excited to welcome him to our team.” 

Prior to joining the city, Henry served as Deputy CIO for Gaston County, leading IT teams and managing major infrastructure improvements that enhanced security, compliance, and cloud resilience. His career includes senior roles in both the public and private sectors, including Cognizant Technology Services and Sara Lee Corporation, where he led global IT transformations and cloud-first, security-focused initiatives for Fortune 500 companies. 

"It is an honor to serve the City of Fayetteville in the current capacity, continuing IT's ‘Will Do’ attitude for America's ‘Can Do’ city,” Henry said in a press release. “IT is a powerful enabler of community trust, access and advancement. I am excited to continue the excellence that the City of Fayetteville is accustomed to, while setting aim on furthering the technical modernization of items within my purview.” 

Henry earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Winston-Salem State University, and he is currently enrolled at Gardner-Webb University to earn a master’s degree in public administration. He also is a Certified Government Chief Information Officer and holds certifications in public and nonprofit management. 

Willie Johnson, who has led the department since September 2023 will assist Henry over the next month as he transitions into the position. Johnson has been employed with the city for 10 years. She is set to retire on June 31.  

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