SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., September 5, 2025 – The City of South San Francisco has appointed Drew Corbett as Interim Finance Director, effective September 2. Corbett brings nearly two decades of public sector leadership experience, having served in multiple Bay Area cities since 2005.
Corbett began his municipal career in Sunnyvale’s Finance Department, advancing to Assistant Director of Finance. In 2013, he was named Finance Director for the City of Menlo Park, and in 2015, joined the City of San Mateo as Finance Director. The following year, he was promoted to Assistant City Manager, adding oversight of the Information Technology Department and management of special projects.
In late 2018, the San Mateo City Council appointed Corbett as City Manager, a position he held through June 2023. In that role, he also served as Chief Administrative Officer of the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department, a Joint Powers Authority serving San Mateo, Belmont, and Foster City. Since 2023, Corbett has operated his own consulting firm supporting local governments across California.
“Drew’s deep experience in finance and city management, along with his collaborative leadership style, will provide great value to South San Francisco,” said City Manager Sharon Ranals. “We are fortunate to have his expertise guiding our Finance Department during this transition.”
Corbett holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of the South. Prior to entering local government, he taught elementary school in Compton, CA through Teach For America and worked as a senior analyst and project manager with Intel Corporation in Santa Clara.
Corbett has also been an active leader in his professional field, serving on the Board of Directors for the California Society of Municipal Finance Directors, where he was elected President in 2017.
“I’m excited to join the City of South San Francisco as Interim Finance Director,” said Corbett. “South City has a strong reputation for innovation and community engagement, and I look forward to supporting the City Council, staff, and residents by ensuring the City’s finances remain stable and positioned for long-term success.”
The City of South San Francisco proudly remains The Industrial City, a reflection of its steel mill and ship building past, redefined to reflect the innovative, entrepreneurial, and industrious spirit which has made South San Francisco the Biotech Capital of the World, with 217 active biotech companies and growing. A vibrant community of 66,185 residents, South San Francisco enjoys a high quality of life with an extensive public parks system, active library and learning programming and a dynamic, engaged community making South San Francisco a great place to live, learn, work, and play.