Longtime operator succeeds Co-Founder Zac Bookman as company scales its Public Service Platform
San Francisco Bay Area, April 2026 – OpenGov, the leader in AI and ERP solutions for local and state governments in the U.S., announced the appointment of Thiago Sá Freire as chief executive officer. Sá Freire succeeds Zac Bookman, who will transition to co-founder & chairman emeritus and continue to support the company’s long-term strategy and mission.
Sá Freire, who currently serves as president and chief operating officer of OpenGov, has been instrumental in scaling the company’s operations, expanding its product portfolio, and deepening its impact with government customers nationwide. Under his leadership, OpenGov has accelerated its evolution into the Public Service Platform, helping more than 2,000 agencies operate with greater transparency, efficiency and accountability.
“Thiago is the right leader for OpenGov’s next chapter,” said Bookman. “He brings a deep understanding of our customers, a strong operational track record, and a vision for how technology can power more effective and accountable government. I’ve had the privilege of building this company from the ground up, and I’m confident Thiago will take it even further.”
“I’m honored to step into the role of CEO at such an important moment for OpenGov and the communities we serve,” said Sá Freire. “Our vision is high-performance government for every community, and our north star is making customers successful. This vision matters deeply to me because of the impact our customers have on their communities every day. We’re focused on helping them operate more efficiently and deliver better outcomes.”
Bookman founded OpenGov in 2012 with a mission to power more effective and accountable government. Under his leadership, the company grew into a category-defining platform serving thousands of governments nationwide. In 2024, Cox Enterprises acquired majority ownership of OpenGov, accelerating product development and expanding the company’s impact. Today, one in three Americans access digital services through the OpenGov Public Service Platform.
“Building OpenGov has been the honor of a lifetime,” added Bookman. “What started as a belief that government deserves better technology has become a platform that powers critical services for communities across the country. I’m proud of what this team has built and excited for what comes next.”
“When we invest in a company like OpenGov, we are betting on the people and the problem they are solving,” said Shereta Williams, executive vice president at Cox Enterprises. “Zac envisioned modern technology that transforms government and the communities they serve, and Thiago has been instrumental in bringing that vision to life since he joined in 2022. His leadership gives us tremendous confidence in what is ahead. This is exactly the kind of long-term partnership Cox is proud to be a part of.”
Sá Freire brings more than a decade of experience building and scaling high-growth technology companies. Prior to OpenGov, he was chief revenue officer at Chorus.ai, where he helped drive significant growth and led the company through a successful acquisition. He previously held senior leadership roles at Hudl, Oracle and Responsys.
The leadership transition is effective April 1, 2026.
OpenGov is the leader in AI and ERP solutions for local and state governments in the U.S. More than 2,000 cities, counties, state agencies, school districts, and special districts rely on the Public Service Platform to operate efficiently, adapt to change, and strengthen public trust. Category-leading products include enterprise asset management, procurement and contract management, accounting and budgeting, billing and revenue management, permitting and licensing, and transparency and open data. These solutions come together in the OpenGov ERP, allowing public sector organizations to focus on priorities and deliver maximum ROI with every dollar and decision in sync.
Learn about OpenGov’s mission to power more effective and accountable government and the vision of high-performance government for every community at OpenGov.com.
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