Cupertino City Manager Jim Throop resigns after six months

Photo courtesy of City of Cupertino website.

Cupertino City Manager Jim Throop has submitted his resignation this week after just six months in the position. His departure marks the seventh position change in the last four years.

Throop relocated this past January to Cupertino from Lompoc, where he had served as city manager for the prior three years. He succeeded interim city manager Greg Larson, who served a six-month term following the abrupt resignation of former City Manager Deb Feng last May.

“I appreciate the opportunity to have served the citizens of Cupertino, however, after much thought and consideration, I have decided to retire from local government service,” Throop wrote in a letter to the City Council dated June 21.

Throop shared high praise for city staff as part of his departure message. “…The City of Cupertino has some of the best employees I have ever had the honor and privilege of working alongside,” he wrote. “They are a well-educated, experienced, and dedicated team that continually strives to make Cupertino a better place for its residents.”

Throop’s last day is July 22. 

In other news, the City has engaged an executive search firm and is advertising for the position of Deputy City Manager. The position replaces former Deputy City Manager Katy Nomura, who recently left her position in Cupertino after 10 years with the City for the same role at the City of Long Beach. 

Additionally, Esther Kwon has been appointed the city’s permanent communications manager, from her role as acting communications manager appointed this past February, following the departure of former Public Information Officer Brian Babcock. Kwon has served in the City’s communications office since 2020.