Brian Abernathy was appointed Managing Director by Mayor James F. Kenney on January 15, 2019. Brian previously served as First Deputy Managing Director since January 2016, overseeing the City’s major operating departments and their day-to-day functions and he has had direct oversight of the City’s public safety functions. Abernathy oversaw the City’s preparations for the Democratic National Convention in 2016 and the NFL Draft in 2017.  He presently oversees the Philadelphia Resilience Project, Mayor Jim Kenney’s response to the opioid crisis. He also chairs the Shared Public Spaces working group, which looks at homelessness and public behavior.

Prior to his appointment as First Deputy Managing Director, Abernathy was the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, where he was responsible for the Gallery Mall redevelopment, the completion of the Eastwick Urban Renewal Area, the close-out of the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, and dozens of neighborhood development and affordable housing projects.  Mr. Abernathy has served in various other roles in city government, including Chief of Staff to the Managing Director and aide to former Councilman Frank DiCicco.

Abernathy is an active member of the Philadelphia community.  In 2014, Mr. Abernathy was named one of the Urban Land Institute’s 40 Under 40.  He serves on the Board of the Arden Theatre Company and the Mt. Moriah Cemetery Preservation Corporation. Abernathy has also previously served as a voting member of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and the Philadelphia Board of Pensions and Retirement.

Mr. Abernathy graduated from Coker College in Hartsville, SC with a degree in Political Science and Theatre.  He lives in the Northwest section of Philadelphia with his wife and two children.