After a nationwide search and selection process, the Novi City Council voted unanimously to offer Interim City Manager Victor Cardenas the City Manager position at its June 5 meeting.
 
“After more than a decade serving our great city, Victor has shown he has the knowledge and experience to be our next City Manager,” said Mayor Bob Gatt. “Picking the best person to be at the helm of one of the best cities in Michigan is a core responsibility City Council holds, and I know Victor is the best person to navigate the great opportunities that lie ahead for Novi for years to come.”
 
Cardenas joined the City of Novi as Assistant City Manager in October 2010, assisting the City Manager in developing strategies to achieve City Council goals and improve the lives of residents. After former City Manager Pete Auger retired in November 2022, Cardenas became Interim City Manager and ran day‐to‐day operations for the City of Novi.
 
“I am honored that City Council has approved me as the next City Manager and am deeply committed to continue working collaboratively with the Council, City staff, and the community to ensure the City of Novi remains a vibrant, dynamic city where residents and businesses thrive,” Cardenas said. “Together, we will address the needs of our residents, promote economic development, and maintain a high quality of life for all.”
 
Cardenas received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Grand Valley State University, where he was appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees in 2014 by Gov. Rick Snyder, and a Master of Public Affairs degree from Indiana University. He is also a Credentialed Manager with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), where he was elected to serve on its board in 2020. In addition, he completed the Senior Executive Institute at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service and received a Senior Executives in State and Local Government certification from the Harvard Kennedy School.
 
He is an active member of many municipal organizations, a board trustee for the Michigan Library Network, and a board member of the Intelligent Transportation Society of Michigan.
 
Cardenas and his wife, Kathryn, reside in Novi with their three children.
 
Cardenas and City Council will now begin contract negotiations.