The Town of Herndon has hired a former top executive from Prince William County as its interim town manager.
Christopher Martino will temporarily assume oversight of the town government’s operations on Sept. 3, taking over from current Town Manager Bill Ashton, who is set to resign effective Sept. 10, the town announced yesterday (Wednesday).
Ashton announced in July that he will step down as Herndon’s head administrator after seven years to accept a county executive position with Stafford County. The Herndon Town Council approved Martino’s appointment on Tuesday (Aug. 13).
Currently the executive manager of Berkley Group, a Bridgewater-based consulting firm that works with local governments and public agencies, Martino worked for Prince William County from 1996 through 2021, becoming its county executive in 2016, per a resume shared by the Town of Herndon.
According to town documents, Herndon contracted Berkley Group on Aug. 9 to provide consulting services through Dec. 29, 2026 with two optional one-year extensions. The agreement can be canceled at any time as long as written notice is provided at least 30 days in advance.
Martino will serve as interim town manager until the town hires a permanent replacement for Ashton, which will likely be identified in the first quarter of 2025, the town said in a press release.
“The town will be working with an executive search firm to conduct a national search for the town’s next manager,” the Town of Herndon said.
To support Martino, the town has also appointed its public works director, Scott Robinson, and Town Clerk Kirstyn Jovanovich to serve as acting deputy town managers, effective immediately.
Robinson will oversee the public works, parks and recreation, police and community development departments, while Jovanovich will have oversight of the town clerk, communications, economic development, finance, human resources, information technology.
At Tuesday’s town council meeting, Ashton noted that Martino, a Haymarket resident, will drive to the town three to four days a week, though he’ll also be available remotely on other days.
“The guidance you gave me to establish a transition plan with two acting deputy managers gives us that luxury of not having him here every day,” Ashton said. “Operationally, between Kirstyn and Scott, the organization will run fairly efficiently, and even on those days he’s not here, he is available to call, Zoom in, whatever’s needed.”
Ashton’s official resignation date coincides with the town council’s expected approval of a revised agreement for Herndon’s long-awaited downtown redevelopment.
Chris Clemente, CEO of the developer Comstock, recognized Ashton’s role in supporting the project during an update to the community on Tuesday. He recalled the town manager reassuring him that he planned “to stick it out” until the new contract between the town and developer is finalized.
“His leaving, I think, is a shame,” Clemente said. “I’d love to see him stay, but I know there’s other issues at play, and he’s made a decision to go. I wish him well.”
