Mayor de Blasio Announces Minerva Tantoco as City's First Ever Chief Technology Officer

September 9, 2014

Minerva Tantoco to lead citywide effort to make New York City the most technology-friendly and innovation-driven city in the world
 
NEW YORK—At the 10th anniversary of the NY Tech Meetup, Mayor de Blasio today announced the appointment of Minerva Tantoco as the City’s first ever Chief Technology Officer (CTO). For more than 25 years – from launching her own start-up to directing technology and innovation for large enterprises – Tantoco has worked to affect business transformation across a range of industries from advertising to finance. She brings this wealth of experience in technology-enabled transformation to government in joining the de Blasio administration.
 
As CTO, Tantoco will direct the Mayor’s Office of Technology and Innovation, under First Deputy Mayor Anthony Shorris, with responsibility for the development and implementation of a coordinated citywide strategy on technology and innovation and encouraging collaboration across agencies and with the wider New York City technology ecosystem. In partnership with other senior administration officials, she will also engage with stakeholders in the tech sector and help encourage more public participation in government.
 
“Our City’s digital infrastructure should reflect the 21st century innovation hub we want New York City to be. With the appointment of Minerva Tantoco as the City’s first Chief Technology Officer, we are moving one major step towards the creation of a modern government that connects City agencies to the best ideas and brightest people to streamline the delivery of government services, and increase transparency,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Minerva is an experienced technologist with vision and technical expertise to make New York City the number one center for tech and innovation in the country, and I am thrilled to have her join my administration.”
 
“I have dedicated my career to creating and deploying forward-thinking, innovative technology,” said incoming Chief Technology Officer Minerva Tantoco. “There is a great opportunity in New York City for government and the tech community to work together to challenge the status quo and improve people’s lives. I’m honored to join the de Blasio administration and look forward to working with City agencies to transform our government – and our city – with technology and innovation.”
 
From leveraging technology for economic development through initiatives like the Tech Talent Pipeline to prioritizing broadband access for all New Yorkers to reduce inequality to building an application for parents to find and apply for pre-K seats, the Blasio Administration has elevated and integrated technology into every part of government.
 
“I am thrilled to have Minerva, a seasoned technologist with a great eye towards innovation, joining the City's tech team to help us advance the Mayor's ambitious technology agenda,” said Anne Roest, Commissioner of the Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications. “As the central technology services agency, DoITT helps government improve the availability and efficiency of key public services, and we look forward to collaborating with Minerva and her team to execute key IT initiatives that leverage our vast technology infrastructure and expertise.  I look forward to partnering with Minerva and the city's technology sector to develop strategies that drive innovation and keep NYC's place as a 21st Century city.”
 
“The appointment of Minerva should signal not only to NYC’s tech ecosystem, but to other global urban centers of innovation that NYC plans to lead the way in leveraging technology as a powerful tool of economic development,” said Kyle Kimball, President & CEO of New York City Economic Development Corporation. “Additionally, through programs like GenTech and Tech Talent Pipeline, the de Blasio administration is actively using technology to reduce inequality, improve quality of life, and create opportunity for generations of New Yorkers.”
 
“With Minerva Tantoco in the historic role of Chief Technology Officer, New York City will continue to grow as one of the most creative, well-run and thriving 21st century cities. Minerva will bring the same innovation to New York City as she has brought to major corporations like UBS as well as agile start-ups,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “Thanks to Mayor de Blasio for continuing to prioritize technology as central to New York City life. I look forward to working with Minerva, and watching her inspire the next generation of young men and women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.”
 
“With roughly three decades of technology experience, Minerva Tantoco is a great choice for the city's first CTO. I look forward to working with her as Chair of the Technology Committee to continue expanding our tech sector and ensure that New York City remains on the cutting edge of technological innovation,” said Council Member James Vacca.
 
“New York City is experiencing a technology transformation which is positively effecting the city’s economy and changing the city’s trajectory into the future. As the city’s new CTO, Minerva will be an exceptional leader and partner in tapping into the power of technology to benefit all New Yorkers. She has been an advocate for women and innovation throughout her career, and will continue to be a role model and trailblazer in her new role.” said Jessica Lawrence, Executive Director of NY Tech Meetup.
 
“Mayor de Blasio’s appointment of New York's first citywide Chief Technology Officer is a milestone event in making New York City government the most innovative and efficient it can be" said Andrew Rasiej, Chairman of the NY Tech Meetup. “The New York tech community is looking forward to working hand in hand with the CTO and the Mayor's entire technology team to make sure New York City continues its assent as major tech and innovation center and that the benefits of technology are available to all New Yorkers in the 21st century.”
 
“Minerva’s deep technical background and experience with both startups and large organizations make her a perfect candidate to be CTO of New York City,” said Kevin Ryan, Chairman and Founder, Gilt, MongoDB, Business Insider, Zola.
 
 
“What is exciting about Minerva Tantoco is she knows how to use technology to support innovation,” said Jerry Hultin, President Emeritus, NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering.  “Working with Mayor de Blasio, she will expand the use technology to give every citizen better access to NYC’s governmental services and benefits.  In addition, she will help Mayor de Blasio design and build the new, innovative systems throughout NYC’s five boroughs that give every citizen a greater shot at education, opportunity, new jobs, and economic growth.”    
 
About Minerva Tantoco

Raised in Flushing, Queens, Tantoco is a product of New York City public schools. She attended Bronx Science High School and while still in college, moved to Silicon Valley where she co-founded technology startup, Manageware Inc, which was successfully sold five years later.
 
Since then, Ms. Tantoco has led emerging technology initiatives including artificial intelligence, e-commerce, virtualization, online marketing and mobile applications. Ms. Tantoco holds four US patents on intelligent workflow and is a speaker and author on mobile, security, big data, and innovation. As Senior Product Manager at Palm, Tantoco pioneered mobile enterprise solutions in the early 2000s which helped pave the path in mobile technology, developing and deploying some of the world’s earliest mobile applications. As Chief Architect at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Tantoco led the re-design and implementation of the company’s Investment Banking data warehouse, a project that mirrors many of the City’s big data and analytics initiatives.
 
Ms. Tantoco most recently served as UBS APAC CTO for client-facing technology and innovation, with regional responsibility for the Asia Pacific region. She currently holds four US patents in artificial intelligence and workflow systems. Tantoco lives in Greenwich Village and has one daughter.