Public sector veteran Yetunde Oke has been tapped as Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack’s new chief of staff. Knack announced the appointment on social media Thursday. “Yetunde brings extensive experience working with all orders of government, navigating complex issues and building strong relationships,” he said. Oke most recently worked in the office of the city manager as the director of intergovernmental affairs for Edmonton. The announcement comes about a month after Blake Desjarlais stepped down as Knack’s chief of staff after just three months. The former NDP MP for Edmonton-Griesbach was hired by Knack in April after losing to Conservative Kerry Diotte in the last federal election. A LinkedIn profile belonging to the name Yetunde Oke suggests she began as chief of staff in July 2026. She also holds an MBA from Queen’s University.
