Talia Lomax-O’dneal became Metro’s new finance director on Tuesday, “breaking two glass ceilings at once” as the first African-American and the first woman to hold the position, Mayor Megan Barry said.

Lomax-O’dneal, who has been with Metro for 15 years, will oversee the city’s $2 billion budget.

“I can’t think of a better person to fill this extremely important role,” Barry said.

Lomax-O’dneal said she had to think about Barry’s job offer and the responsibility that comes with it, but was swayed in part by
the mayor’s inauguration speech.

“She said some things that really spoke to me and made me want to be part of her team,” Lomax-O’dneal said.

The Metro Council still must approve the appointment, which can first happen at the Oct. 20 meeting.

Rich Riebeling, who served as former Mayor Karl Dean’s finance director, has taken a new post of chief operating officer in the Barry administration.