UNC Hired New IT Official With Past Ethics Issues
Mark Hoeting has joined the University of North Carolina after resigning from Georgia Tech over ethics violations.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in People
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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has hired Mark Hoeting as its new senior associate chief information officer. Hoeting previously resigned from Georgia Tech in 2019 following an investigation into conflict-of-interest policy violations.
Why it matters
The appointment has drawn attention due to Hoeting's past ethics report, which documented an undisclosed romantic relationship with a vendor that resulted in $5 million in equipment purchases.
Hoeting manages an operating budget of approximately $40 million and oversees a staff of 230 employees. UNC maintains procurement policies requiring formal bids for purchases exceeding $350,000 and state review for those over $500,000.
The players
Mark Hoeting
He is the new senior associate chief information officer at UNC and a former chief information officer at Georgia Tech.
UNC Information Technology Services
This is the department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that manages campus technology infrastructure.
Georgia Tech
This public research university in Atlanta was the former employer of Mark Hoeting.
University System of Georgia
This government entity oversees public higher education institutions in Georgia and conducted the ethics investigation into Hoeting.
The details
UNC leadership stated the university completed interviews, background checks, and employment verification processes prior to the hire. The 2019 inquiry by the University System of Georgia found that Hoeting had introduced a vendor sales representative, with whom he had a romantic relationship, to his subordinates.
Timeline
January 2017: Hoeting allegedly disclosed his relationship to his supervisor.
April 2019: The University System of Georgia published its ethics report.
April 23, 2019: Mark Hoeting resigned from his role at Georgia Tech.
September 23, 2026: UNC announced it had hired Mark Hoeting.
October 5, 2026: Mark Hoeting officially started his new position at UNC.
Market Landscape
The hiring follows the standards set by the University System of Georgia's 2019 conflict-of-interest inquiry. This appointment reflects how public universities balance leadership experience with the reputational risks identified in prior institutional investigations.
The hire directly impacts the leadership of the IT services used by university students and staff. Residents and stakeholders may follow how the university's procurement policies, which trigger state review at the $500,000 threshold, are managed under new oversight.
The takeaway
Transparency remains a critical factor for public institutions when vetting high-level administrators for sensitive financial roles. Candidates with documented ethics histories are often subject to higher levels of public scrutiny regarding their administrative decision-making.
Further reading
For additional context on academic leadership, see People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Tar Heel.
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