City Administrator Carmen Chu announces the retirement of Risk Management Director Matt Hansen after over 20 years of City service

SAN FRANCISCO, CA---City Administrator Carmen Chu today announced the retirement of Matt Hansen, Director of Risk Management for the City and County of San Francisco. Since 2008, Hansen has led the agency advancing the City’s Risk Management policy, facilitating key infrastructure decisions while managing insurance placements and programs, advice, counseling, and technical services for all City agencies. 

“Risk management is one of those vital functions that most people never hear about when it’s working well—and that’s a testament to Matt’s leadership,” said City Administrator Carmen Chu. “He has an exceptional ability to see the big picture, anticipate risks before they become problems, understand what the City needs, and find smart solutions in the insurance and risk markets. His work behind the scenes has protected our public assets, helped major capital projects move forward, and kept essential City operations running. For decades, Matt has quietly made it possible for so much of the City’s work to happen, always putting the interests of San Franciscans first. We are all deeply grateful for his judgment, foresight, and service, and I wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.” 

Hansen has stewarded long-standing relationships with key partners in the insurance industry, ensuring underwriters have a comprehensive understanding of San Francisco’s unique assets and risks. Under his leadership, the City has secured strategic insurance coverage that protects public assets while enabling critical infrastructure and service delivery projects to move forward. 

Risk Management oversees a property insurance portfolio valued at nearly $25 billion dollars in assets for City departments in San Francisco, including for the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the San Francisco Airport (SFO), the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA), and the Port of San Francisco. The division works to negotiate aviation and marine insurance programs for the City, along with other significant liability programs.   

Risk Management also places insurance policies for the high-value fine art collections owned by the City and County of San Francisco, managing assets at the Asian Art Museum, the deYoung, the Legion of Honor, and SFO. This includes support for all major and minor exhibitions at each museum and throughout the City, ensuring that San Francisco continues to thrive as a global center for arts and culture. 

“It has been my honor to serve as Risk Management Division Director and play a role in many of San Francisco’s achievements over the last two decades,” said Matt Hansen. “Our successes are due to the many dedicated colleagues and industry partners that allowed us to collaborate on innovative solutions to what would appear to most as mundane insurance programs or contractual hurdles. I enter retirement with immense gratitude for the many talented City colleagues, too many to name, who over the years have embraced these partnerships that allowed us to quietly serve San Francisco’s projects and programs, large and small.” 

Hansen’s work has been critical for advancing large-scale capital improvement projects in partnership with City departments. Hansen spearheaded work with the SFMTA to lead insurance procurement for the design, construction, and completion of the central subway system, delivering the City’s first subway in over 40 years. Hansen’s team has also led strategic insurance policy decisions, entering the PUC and Port into specialized insurance programs to customize property insurance to include power generation and maritime assets while securing more favorable terms for San Francisco’s needs. 

Through placing insurance policies for major public events, Risk Management has helped San Francisco safely welcome world-class international gatherings and celebrations. During Hansen's tenure, the division supported the 2013 America's Cup, the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Week conference, multiple championship celebrations for the Giants and Warriors, and the Olympic Torch Run, among countless other events. 

“Matt has been an exceptional and steady partner to every corner of the City over the years I have had the pleasure of working with him, but especially in my time here at the Port,” said Michael Martin, Port of San Francisco Executive Director. “Whether advising and training Port staff on insurance requirements, helping us navigate complex claims after major incidents, or working each year to secure the best insurance coverage and pricing, Matt has consistently brought expertise, sound judgment, and a genuine commitment to the Port’s success as a small enterprise department with a big mission. Prior to that, Matt was an invaluable partner as he helped the City navigate the 2013 America’s Cup regattas, as that unique event presented many unusual risk management scenarios that Matt handled with his usual calm expertise. We are deeply grateful for Matt’s partnership and wish him fair winds and following seas in his well-earned retirement.” 

“Matt Hansen has been a trusted partner and steady guide to the SFPUC,” said SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera. “Through his expertise and network across the City's insurance markets, he helped us structure and implement the coverage programs that our Risk Management team leveraged to recover over $8 million following the 2013 Rim Fire. That led to a total of over $31 million in recoveries and premium savings over the years. More recently it saved our ratepayers over $1 million in annual premiums. That kind of work ensures our assets are protected and those dollars stay where they belong — with our ratepayers. We are grateful for his partnership and wish him well in his retirement.” 

“Matt has been a thoughtful, reliable, and knowledgeable partner to our office, safeguarding the City with a pragmatic, big‑picture approach,” said City Attorney David Chiu. “His advocacy and guidance on complex risk‑allocation issues have supported many lawyers and protected the City’s assets and interests over the years.” 

“On behalf of our entire SFO team, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Matt Hansen for his leadership and collaboration,” said Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet. “His steadfast guidance elevated our risk-mitigation practices to enhance our unwavering focus on safety and security. Our entire SFO team is grateful for his contributions and wishes him a fulfilling and well-deserved retirement.” 

“The Asian Art Museum is deeply grateful to Matt for his leadership, foresight, and care in protecting the city's collection of Asian art, our building, and the communities we serve," said Soyoung Lee, The Barbara Bass Bakar Director and CEO of the Asian Art Museum. "Risk mitigation is an essential part of museum stewardship, and Matt’s expertise gave us confidence that we could meet unexpected challenges while protecting what matters most. Congrats, Matt, on a well-deserved retirement.” 

Hansen has served on the United States Technical Advisory Group for ISO 31000, representing public agencies interests in the implementation of the international standard for Risk Management adopted by the US in 2009. He also served as an elected Director on the Board of the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) and as Chair of the Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI) Board of Directors. 

Prior to joining City and County of San Francisco, Hansen served as the Director of Risk Management at the San Francisco Unified School District. He has previously helmed Risk Management and Business Operations roles at the San Diego Unified School District, East Side Union High School District in San Jose, as well as roles with Schools Insurance Authority in Sacramento and at complex claims units of two insurers. 

A third-generation San Franciscan, Hansen holds a Bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Golden Gate University. He retires with his spouse and partner of 33 years, Terry Heitman.  

Hansen’s retirement is effective in October. The City Administrator’s Office will conduct a search for the next Director of Risk Management.