Mayor Walsh appoints Jascha Franklin-Hodge as Chief Information Officer

Today, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced that Jascha Franklin-Hodge will serve as the City’s new Chief Information Officer. Franklin-Hodge will lead the City’s efforts to enhance online service delivery, empower City employees with effective digital tools, and improve access to technology and the Internet for all Boston neighborhoods. 

Franklin-Hodge brings more than 15 years of information technology experience in the corporate, nonprofit, and political sectors to his new role overseeing the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT).

Franklin-Hodge will begin his service to the City of Boston on July 28, replacing current Interim Chief Information Officer Justin Holmes. Holmes has served the City of Boston for nearly five years. He will work with Franklin-Hodge to ensure a smooth leadership transition over the next month.

“Jascha Franklin-Hodge will be a vital addition to our City’s leadership team, following the exceptional work of Justin Holmes,” said Mayor Walsh. “Jascha has directed large, high-profile technology operations, and I know he comes well-equipped to help Boston continue its leadership as a world-class tech city.” 

“We can use technology to make it easier for Bostonians to do business with the City and to empower city employees to provide great service,” said Franklin-Hodge. “Access to the internet and technical skills can enhance educational and economic opportunity, and Mayor Walsh and I share a vision for a more connected Boston.”

 
Franklin-Hodge co-founded Blue State Digital (BSD) in 2004 and currently runs BSD’s Boston technology office. He oversaw the development and operation of the BSD Tools, an online fundraising, email, and CRM platform that powered the digital presence of President Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns. The platform has processed $1.6B in online donations and delivered more than 24 billion emails on behalf of over 500 clients. Current and past clients include: One Fund Boston; the Democratic National Committee; Partners in Health; Google; the NAACP, SEIU; the current presidents of France, Brazil, and Mexico; Senators Kennedy, Kerry, Markey, Warren; and the campaigns of more than 50 other members of Congress.

Prior to founding Blue State Digital, Franklin-Hodge worked on Howard Dean's groundbreaking 2004 presidential campaign, where he led the technology team responsible for scaling, securing, and maintaining a high visibility, high traffic website that received praise from both the political and tech communities for its usability, reliability, and depth of functionality.

Since 2009, Franklin-Hodge has served as an advisor to Code for America, a nonprofit which connects technologists with cities to help government solve civic challenges and encourages innovation in government technology.

Previously, Franklin-Hodge was the director of software development for AOL's Digital Music Division, and has worked for the Art Technology Group and Software Tool and Die, and has consulted for the Computer Museum, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.

Franklin-Hodge studied computer science at MIT and lives in South Boston.