Greenville city manager to step down

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The city of Greenville’s chief administrative officer for the last eight years is stepping down.

Mayor Knox White announced May 4 that City Manager John Castile has decided to step down from the position he has held since June 2010. No departure data was identified in the announcement, though the mayor said Castile will work with the Greenville City Council to develop a transition plan for the coming months.

Castile has spent most of his 23-year tenure with the organization. While originally joining the city’s recreation division, Castile was soon recruited to the city manager’s office, first as assistant to then City Manager Steve Thompson. He then earned the title of assistant city manager and later deputy city manager when he was given oversight of all city departments, the release said.

“John is an extraordinarily talented leader and a joy to work with. He brings out the best in everyone, making the city so effective from top to bottom,” Mayor White said, in the release. “Everyone on city council has the highest regard for his integrity and ability and understands that his desire to step away from this very demanding 24/7 role is his personal decision. We all wish him the best.”

“The secret to Greenville’s success is the strong leadership of our elected officials and our commitment – across all departments and at every level of our organization – to making this the best city it can be, for all of our citizens,” Castile said, in the release. “While I’ll no longer be at the helm, I can assure our residents and business owners that we have a dedicated leadership team and workforce who will continue to move our city forward.”