Top Communications Aide Lentile Leaves Nashville Mayor’s Office

Tennessee Lookout

December 17, 2020

By Nate Rau

Katie Lentile, the chief communications officer for Nashville Mayor John Cooper, is leaving her post at the end of the year.

Lentile had never worked in politics before earning the top communications job for Cooper’s campaign last year. She was hired to the top advisory role after Cooper won the runoff election against Mayor David Briley.

Lentile said she plans to return to running her business development and digital marketing firm the Lentile Group.

Katie Lentile, communications director for Nashville Mayor John Cooper (Photo: submitted)

In her role leading Cooper’s communications strategy, Lentile navigated the tumultuous budget situation, the destructive March tornado and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m grateful for the experience of serving Nashville and Mayor Cooper’s administration through some of the biggest challenges in our city’s history,” Lentile said. “After the campaign I signed on for one year knowing I would learn a lot from a year in public service. After an invaluable experience working for Mayor Cooper, I am looking forward to supporting his leadership from outside the office.”

Cooper lauded Lentile’s service in prepared remarks on Wednesday. Lentile is the first major departure from Cooper’s staff.

“In Nashville’s hardest year, Katie has been invaluable in communicating clearly about COVID, as well as all the financial problems facing our city,” Cooper said. “We will miss her and hope that there might be another chapter of public service in her future.”

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