The Unexpected Departure of Los Angeles County’s CEO
Fesia Davenport, the taxpayer-funded CEO of Los Angeles County, has recently made headlines due to a surprising series of events involving a $2 million settlement and an unexpected leave of absence. According to a confidential agreement obtained by LAist, Davenport received the hefty sum in August as compensation for “embarrassment” she experienced during her tenure. This revelation has sparked significant interest and questions about the circumstances surrounding the payment.
Davenport, who has been serving as the county’s CEO for five years and earns an annual salary of $570,000, claimed that she suffered “harm to her reputation and emotional distress.” As part of the settlement, she waived her right to sue over any past incidents and agreed to keep the details of the agreement strictly private. Additionally, the agreement prohibited her from making or encouraging others to make negative statements about the Board of Supervisors or other officials.
The mystery surrounding the settlement is compounded by Davenport’s recent announcement of a leave of absence until the start of next year. Despite the suddenness of her departure, she informed her team via an internal email the night before she began her months-long hiatus. In her message, she expressed surprise at the timing of her leave, noting that planning such a break involves several moving parts and is not always conducive to advance notice.
“I have found that planning a leave (the first one in my 27-year career with the County) involves several moving parts and is not always conducive to a large amount of advance notice,” she wrote. She also mentioned that while now is not a good time to take a leave, there never is in their line of work. However, she emphasized that her leave is temporary and that she expects to return to her role as Chief Executive Officer.
Davenport’s office stated that her leave was for unspecified medical reasons, but she plans to return. In her absence, Joe Nicchitta, the county’s deputy CEO, will step in to fill her shoes.
Before becoming CEO, Davenport held several leadership positions within the county, including roles with the Office of Child Protection and the Child Support Services Department. She holds a law degree from UC Hastings and has spent her career as a driving force behind transformative initiatives, fostering collaboration across departments, public-private sectors, and governmental agencies.
Public records indicate that Davenport owns a property in Compton and a luxurious $2.2 million mansion in LA’s View Park historic district. The Daily Mail has reached out to Davenport and the county counsel for comment.
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