Dr. Michael Branco Formally Sworn In As Mayor
The Corporation of Hamilton has formally welcomed Dr. Michael Branco as Mayor of Hamilton following his election victory and official ceremony at City Hall.
A spokesperson said, “The Corporation of Hamilton is pleased to formally welcome Mayor Dr. Michael Branco as Mayor of Hamilton following his election victory in the Municipal Elections held on May 7, 2026.
“Dr. Mayor Branco was legally sworn in immediately following the announcement of his election win by former Mayor Charles Gosling, who served the City with distinction for more than 14 years across two terms. On May 13, Mayor Branco was formally invested with the Chains of Office by the City’s Chief Executive Officer Dwayne Caines during a ceremony at City Hall, attended by his family, friends, fellow Councillors, colleagues, and members of the City team.
“The ceremony marked an important moment in the City’s democratic transition and celebrated the beginning of Mayor Branco’s tenure. Mayor Branco was elected after receiving 140 votes, compared with 43 votes for fellow mayoral candidate Mr. Elmore Warren.”
Reflecting on the significance of the occasion, Mayor Branco said: “Being invested with the Chains of Office was a proud and humbling moment. The weight of the Chains is significant, just like the responsibilities of this office. I will serve our residents, our businesses, our staff, and the City of Hamilton with all my energy, intellect, ethics, and heart throughout my term.”
The spokesperson said, “Mayor Branco’s first week in office has included briefings on immediate City priorities, preparation for his first Board meeting as Mayor, ceremonial duties, and engagement with residents. On his first day in office, he visited North Hamilton with the City Engineer to review first-hand feedback received from residents during the election canvass.
“Mayor Branco said the response from the community has been encouraging.”
“During the election, I walked the streets of Hamilton several times over, meeting voters, knocking on doors, and listening to feedback,” he said. “It was a humbling experience, and I am a better person for it. The feedback and excitement about the new City Council have been positive and overwhelming. There is a real sense of hope and possibility, and now we must get to work.”
The spokesperson said, “The newly elected Council held its first Board meeting on May 13 and constituted its committees as follows:
- North Hamilton & Residents — Chair: Councillor Brown
- Finance — Chair: Councillor Barnett
- Infrastructure — Chair: Councillor Pacheco
- Staff & Legislation — Chair: Councillor Brimmer
- Unsheltered Population — Chair: Councillor Caines
“The City will also be reactivating the Waterfront Committee, with the Chair to be announced soon.
“Mayor Branco said the Council’s immediate focus will be on delivering early progress while remaining mindful of budgets, resources, and operational capacity.”
“Our priorities include improving quality of life for residents in North Hamilton, bringing more vibrancy to the City through events in North Hamilton and along the Waterfront, helping Bermudian businesses thrive in Hamilton, working with our partners to address the needs of the unsheltered population and related community challenges, and thoughtfully bringing artificial intelligence into City operations as a tool to work alongside our team, not to replace them,” said Mayor Branco.
The spokesperson said, “The new Council is also eager to have its first meetings with Government to discuss the path forward for Municipal Reform and the preservation of the City’s right to hold elections.
“Mayor Branco brings more than 25 years of experience across business, technology, and innovation. He was sworn in as a City Councillor in July 2025 and previously served as an Associate Member of the City of Hamilton’s Infrastructure Committee from 2019 to 2023.
“He is the founder of Celeste Ventures, a technology advisory and investment company, and previously served as CEO of Fireminds, where he grew the company into an award-winning software and cloud services firm operating across multiple jurisdictions. Mayor Branco is also the founder of PTIX, Bermuda’s leading ticketing platform, and played a key role in the development of Innovation House, a prominent technology and commercial hub in Hamilton.
“Through Celeste Ventures, he oversees a diverse portfolio of ventures spanning SaaS, Insurtech, advertising, and IT services, including the successful transformation of AAC Saatchi & Saatchi into the Two Point O Collective.
“Mayor Branco holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Western University and an MBA from Ivey Business School. He has completed executive training at Stanford University in artificial intelligence, distributed databases, and board governance, and recently completed his Doctorate in Business Administration at Rutgers Business School, with research focused on artificial intelligence and finance.
“Civically engaged, Mayor Branco has served on multiple committees within the City of Hamilton, is a Justice of the Peace, and currently serves as Chair of Bermuda Forward, a non-partisan think tank focused on Bermuda’s long-term economic and social development. He is also a past Chair of YPO Bermuda.
“Mayor Branco succeeds Charles Gosling, and the Corporation of Hamilton extends its sincere thanks to Mr. Gosling and the retiring Councillors for their years of dedicated service and leadership.”
“We are fortunate that the outgoing Council fought hard for the City, defended our right to elections, and laid a strong financial foundation for the City’s continued success,” said Mayor Branco. “I am forever thankful to Mayor Gosling and the retiring Councillors, who gave more than 15 years of dedicated service.”
The spokesperson said, “During his tenure, Mr. Gosling helped guide the City through a period of meaningful progress and modernization. Under his leadership, the City introduced open Council meetings, strengthening transparency and public engagement, while continuing to champion Hamilton’s long-standing tradition of democratic representation. His stewardship, alongside Council and staff, supported initiatives aimed at enhancing the City’s operations, public spaces, and economic vitality.
“The Corporation of Hamilton warmly welcomes Mayor Branco to his new role and looks forward to his leadership in continuing to support Hamilton’s growth, vibrancy, democratic representation, and economic development.”
