OpenGov Names Thiago Sá Freire as CEO to Lead Next Chapter of AI-Native Growth

Longtime operator succeeds Co-Founder Zac Bookman as company scales its Public Service Platform

Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:26pm by Ben Kaplan

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OpenGov, the leader in AI and ERP solutions for local and state governments in the U.S., has announced the appointment of Thiago Sá Freire as its new 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.

Why it matters

OpenGov has been a category-defining platform serving thousands of governments nationwide, and this leadership transition comes at a critical moment as the company continues to scale its Public Service Platform and deepen its impact with government customers across the country.

The details

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.

  • Sá Freire's appointment as CEO is effective April 1, 2026.
  • Bookman founded OpenGov in 2012 and has led the company since then.
  • In 2024, Cox Enterprises acquired majority ownership of OpenGov, accelerating product development and expanding the company's impact.

The players

Thiago Sá Freire

The new chief executive officer of OpenGov, who previously served as president and chief operating officer and has been instrumental in scaling the company's operations, expanding its product portfolio, and deepening its impact with government customers nationwide.

Zac Bookman

The co-founder of OpenGov, who will transition to co-founder & chairman emeritus and continue to support the company's long-term strategy and mission.

OpenGov

The leader in AI and ERP solutions for local and state governments in the U.S., which has grown into a category-defining platform serving thousands of governments nationwide.

Cox Enterprises

The company that acquired majority ownership of OpenGov in 2024, accelerating product development and expanding the company's impact.

Shereta Williams

The executive vice president at Cox Enterprises, who expressed confidence in Thiago Sá Freire's leadership and the long-term partnership between Cox and OpenGov.

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What they’re saying

“Thiago is the right leader for OpenGov's next chapter. 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.”

— Zac Bookman, Co-Founder & Chairman Emeritus, OpenGov

“I'm honored to step into the role of CEO at such an important moment for OpenGov and the communities we serve. 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.”

— Thiago Sá Freire, Chief Executive Officer, OpenGov

“When we invest in a company like OpenGov, we are betting on the people and the problem they are solving. 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.”

— Shereta Williams, Executive Vice President, Cox Enterprises

What’s next

The leadership transition at OpenGov, with Thiago Sá Freire taking over as CEO from Zac Bookman, is effective April 1, 2026.

The takeaway

This leadership change at OpenGov, a leading provider of AI and ERP solutions for local and state governments, signals the company's continued commitment to powering more effective and accountable government through innovative technology. Thiago Sá Freire's deep understanding of the company's customers and vision for the future, combined with the ongoing support of co-founder Zac Bookman, positions OpenGov for further growth and impact in the public sector.