Ekstrom Appointed Acting Chief Financial Officer for New Bedford

NEW BEDFORD — City Auditor Robert Ekstrom has been appointed by Mayor Jon Mitchell to serve as Acting Chief Financial Officer, replacing outgoing CFO Ari Sky.

Sky is departing May 15 to become the new Town Administrator in Lakeville. Ekstrom will take over as Acting CFO on May 16, while also continuing to see operations of the Auditor’s Office, according to a City of New Bedford press release. Ekstrom has served as City Auditor since 2014.

Ekstrom is a certified public accountant who previously worked for 10 years with the City of Newport, Rhode Island, primarily as City Treasurer and Deputy Finance Director. He has also held positions in the private sector and with the federal government.

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Sky has served as New Bedford’s first Chief Financial Officer since 2013. According to a release, “during his tenure, he has professionalized the City’s financial operations, and the City’s bond rating is at the highest in its history.”

The City’s release also stated that Sky will provide support for Ekstrom during the transition, including during the development of the Fiscal Year 2022 budget.