Higgins Names Casado Chief of Staff

Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins also appoints Marta Viciedo as chief strategy officer in a pair of leadership moves.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in People

Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins appointed Maca Casado as her chief of staff and Marta Viciedo as chief strategy officer, announcing the moves on Monday. The appointments follow Higgins's August separation from former chief of staff Maggie Fernandez.

Why it matters

The changes reshape the mayor's senior staff, placing a longtime communications director in the chief of staff role and elevating a strategic initiatives leader to a top advisory position. Higgins did not say whether the promotions came with a pay raise.

The mayor's office filled two top posts in one announcement, with Casado moving up from communications director, which she held since February. The announcement did not disclose salary terms for either role.

The players

Eileen Higgins

Eileen Higgins is the mayor of Miami, leading the city government and making senior staffing decisions for its executive office.

Maca Casado

Maca Casado is a communications professional who served as a national spokeswoman for the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign and previously held a vice president of communications role at Operativo.

Marta Viciedo

Marta Viciedo is a Miami civic figure and co-founder of Transit Alliance Miami who previously worked at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The details

Higgins announced the chief of staff and chief strategy officer picks together on Monday. Casado previously served as vice president of communications at Operativo and as a national spokeswoman for the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign. Viciedo, previously director of strategic initiatives and economic growth, is a co-founder of Transit Alliance Miami and formerly worked at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

August: Higgins parted ways with chief of staff Maggie Fernandez.
February: Casado began serving as Higgins's communications director.
Monday, November 2, 2026: Higgins announced the Casado and Viciedo appointments.

Market Landscape

The appointments follow directly from Higgins's August split with chief of staff Maggie Fernandez, filling the vacancy that departure created. Elevating a communications director and naming a strategy chief signals how the mayor is organizing her senior team after that turnover.

For Miami residents, the appointments change who advises the mayor on communications, strategy, and economic growth, the areas most visible to the public. The announcement did not address any change to city services or budgets.

The takeaway

Senior staffing changes like these often shape how a mayor's office communicates and sets priorities, so tracking who holds these roles offers a clearer view of City Hall's direction. Readers can follow future announcements from the mayor's office for any changes in responsibilities or compensation.