“I am deeply humbled by the trust and confidence the Commissioners Court has placed in me,” Menon told Industry Insider — Texas via email. “I am honored by the opportunity to continue serving the people of Harris County as executive director of Universal Services.”
Hers is one of four executive appointments announced Friday.
“My role is that of CIO and executive director for Universal Services, where I serve as a trusted technology adviser to the county’s leadership, and department director for county IT, public safety technology, justice technology, fleet and 311 functions,” she said.
Menon will lead a team of IT professionals serving the nation’s third-largest county and Texas’ largest. The department has 11 divisions that serve about 17,774 full-time staff and 4.7 million residents.
“These appointments mark a pivotal moment in our ongoing commitment to fortify Harris County and enhance our service to residents,” Interim County Administrator Diana Ramirez wrote in a news release. “Each of these accomplished executive directors brings a distinct set of skills and experience that will propel our county's growth and development. We enthusiastically extend our congratulations to these accomplished leaders for their well-deserved promotions, and I look forward to continuing working with each of them.”
Menon is a seasoned IT professional, arriving in the Texas public sector in 2008 via the city of Dallas, then making stops in Houston and College Station, according to her LinkedIn profile. She served a short stint as the Raleigh, N.C., CIO from June 2021 to March 2022 before taking the Harris County CIO role.
Next, she took on the interim Universal Services executive director role alongside her CIO duties. Overall, she has more than 25 years of technology and leadership experience.
“Menon’s extensive background in delivering essential services, combined with a dedication to innovation and efficiency, will be instrumental in ensuring that Harris County departments and offices receive the highest quality services across a broad spectrum of areas,” the news release said.
The county will recruit a chief technology officer to support day-to-day operations, which will be advertised soon, Menon said.
“As CIO, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication and talent within our team,” she said. “I am excited about the future of Universal Services, and I look forward to contributing to the county’s continued success.”
