Detroit's Finance Chief, a Key Player in Bankruptcy Saga, Is Leaving City Staff

John Hill: "I learned so much." (LinkedIn photo)

During Detroit's bankruptcy, Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr often grabbed the most headlines.

But there's a lesser known figure, John Hill, the city's chief financial officer, who played a key role as well in helping the city emerge from rock bottom. Orr brought him in.

Now, Hill is leaving his $230,625-a-year job. "After five years of working with an amazing team of professionals and accomplishing much, I am stepping down at the end of the calendar year," he posts Wednesday afternoon at LinkedIn. "Many thanks to Mayor Duggan for his unwavering support. I have learned so much from his exceptional leadership.

Hill helpied restore Detroit's credibility with Wall Street and keep its finances on track, Mayor Mike Duggan tells Christine Ferretti of The Detroit News. 

“From a financial management standpoint, the City of Detroit is now one of the most professionally run cities in the country," Duggan says. "Considering where our city was just five years ago, this is a remarkable turnaround, and it simply would not have been possible without John Hill’s leadership and the outstanding team he has assembled.”

The certified public accountant had been CEO of the noprofit Federal City Council in Washington, D.C., where "he helped to restructure D.C.’s financial and operational management systems and improve the delivery of city services," his Detroit government bio says.