Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed Board of Public Works Commissioner Matt Szabo as his new deputy mayor for Budget and Innovation, starting July 6.

As president pro tem of the Board of Public Works, he has responsibility for oversight of the city’s Bureau of Engineering.

He also serves as senior labor relations advisor to Garcetti, working as liaison to the city’s employee unions and key facilitator between management and labor on contract negotiations and employee disputes.

As Deputy Mayor of Budget and Innovation, Szabo will help balance the budget and develop and implement new tools and solutions to make government more cost-efficient and responsive.

He will also oversee departments including the City Administrative Officer, the Office of Finance, the Information Technology Agency, Personnel, Employee Relations, the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System, and the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions.

“I am honored to have Mayor Garcetti’s confidence and look forward to building upon the progress his Office of Budget and Innovation has made in restoring and expanding basic city services by making government more efficient, effective and innovative,” Szabo said.

Szabo previously served as Deputy Mayor and Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and in communications capacities for Mayor Richard Riordan, then council member Wendy Greuel, and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office.