Indianapolis Committee Approves New Equity Chief
The City-County Council committee advanced the appointment of Margarette Webb as the city's new chief equity officer.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in People
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A City-County Council committee voted to approve Margarette Webb as the new chief equity officer for Indianapolis on October 14. Webb, currently the chief strategy officer for Indy Parks, was appointed by Mayor Joe Hogsett to lead the office on September 19.
Why it matters
Webb intends to conduct a 90-day listening tour across city departments to identify internal challenges and improve support services. Her role is central to managing diversity and inclusion initiatives overseen by the Office of Equity, Belonging and Inclusion.
Margarette Webb will conduct a 90-day listening tour across city departments to assess operational needs. The Office of Equity, Belonging and Inclusion, which manages diversity initiatives, was established in the 2024 city budget.
The players
Margarette Webb
She is the newly approved chief equity officer for Indianapolis and former chief strategy officer for the Indy Parks department.
Joe Hogsett
He is the Mayor of Indianapolis who appointed Margarette Webb to lead the city's diversity and inclusion efforts.
Benjamin Tapper
He served as the first director of the Office of Equity, Belonging and Inclusion in Indianapolis.
The details
Webb joined the city in 2022 and previously served as the chief strategy officer for Indy Parks. The role of equity officer was previously held by Benjamin Tapper as the office's first director.
Timeline
Margarette Webb joined the city staff in 2022.
The Office of Equity, Belonging and Inclusion was created in the 2024 city budget.
Mayor Joe Hogsett appointed Webb to the chief equity officer role on September 19, 2026.
A City-County Council committee approved Webb's appointment on October 14, 2026.
Webb's current term is scheduled to end at the conclusion of 2026.
Market Landscape
The appointment follows the structural mandate established in the 2024 city budget, which provided the fiscal authorization to create the Office of Equity, Belonging and Inclusion. This leadership transition aims to stabilize the office's operations following the tenure of its first director.
Residents can expect the new chief equity officer to initiate a series of department-level reviews through a 90-day listening tour. These efforts are designed to refine the city's diversity and inclusion initiatives, potentially altering how municipal services are delivered across different neighborhoods.
The takeaway
The appointment marks a transition in the management of city-wide diversity programs as the administration seeks to improve inter-departmental support. Residents may see changes in local service delivery as Webb's listening tour identifies areas for improvement.
What happens next
Webb's appointment requires a final confirmation vote from the full City-County Council following the committee approval.
Further reading
For more information on local leadership and administrative updates, visit the Indianapolis People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mirror Indy.
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