The City of Charlotte has announced the appointment of Federico Rios as International Relations Officer, leading the Office of International Relations which was created by the Charlotte City Council in the FY2027 Budget.
Charlotte’s international population continues to expand, and the city has increasingly become a destination for global business, reflected in the steady stream of corporate offices, headquarters relocations and international firms that have opened operations in the region.
“As our international connections deepen, we need a dedicated function to help align the city’s approach, build relationships with our international communities and partners, and ensure Charlotte is positioned to make the most of its growing global standing,” Charlotte City Manager Marcus D. Jones said. “Federico’s experience building relationships across government, community and business makes him well-suited to lead this new office as Charlotte continues to grow as an international city.”
The Office of International Relations supports language access, integration services and community outreach, and will work to build a long-term strategy for the city’s international relations in partnership with the city’s Economic Development department.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to return to the City of Charlotte at such a pivotal time and in such an important role,” Rios said. “I am excited to work alongside our community to develop a strategy that will continue to build on our strengths and values.”
Rios has more than two decades of experience across local government, nonprofits and philanthropy, and brings a strong record of building partnerships across government, community organizations and civic institutions. He currently serves as Interim Executive Director of the Latin American Coalition and as Co-Chair of the North Carolina Governor’s Advisory Council on Latino Affairs. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President at Foundation For The Carolinas, where he advised philanthropic boards, stewarded community investment funds and led cross-sector convening through the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership.
Rios previously served as the Deputy Director of the city’s Office of Equity, Mobility and Immigrant Integration, where he worked on economic mobility initiatives, partnered with the Mecklenburg County Health Department on the Cure Violence model, and helped design and manage SAFE Charlotte. Earlier in his career, at Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, he founded the Newcomer Services Program supporting immigrant and refugee students, building on an early career in direct mental health services and crisis response.
His honors include the Leadership in the Clouds Liderazgo Award, the Excelente Award for Community Service and recognition in the Charlotte Business Journal’s Power 100.
About the City of Charlotte
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