Melissa Haley Branch

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT MELISSA HALEY BRANCH

Melissa Haley has spent more than 25 years in local government, building a career centered on public service, communications, and community trust. Since joining the City of Irvine in 2005, she has held multiple leadership roles, including Deputy City Manager, and now serves as Director of Communications & Engagement.Melissa leads four divisions — Marketing & Communications, Irvine Community Television, Engagement, and Destination Irvine — that collectively serve as the City’s primary connection to residents, businesses, and visitors. Her department is responsible for keeping the community informed and engaged through the City’s website, the award-winning Inside Irvine magazine, social media, video, press, digital platforms, public events, and more. She also oversees Irvine’s Sister City and Friendship City programs, strengthening international relationships, and the Hotel Improvement District, known as Destination Irvine, which promotes the city as a premier Southern California destination.Melissa is a highly motivated and seasoned communications and engagement leader with extensive experience spanning media relations, branding and marketing, event planning, digital platforms, website and app implementation, crisis communication, emergency management, and community relations. She played a key role in the City’s Emergency Operations Center during the 2020 Silverado Fire and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.She has proven her ability to establish and maintain thoughtful relationships, navigate complex environments, advise and support senior leadership, and work effectively with elected officials, community leaders, dignitaries, and high-profile partners. Melissa brings a steady, thoughtful approach to managing expectations, aligning messaging, and leading teams through both high-visibility initiatives and sensitive issues.Melissa takes pride in and embraces serving as a public steward. She holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with a minor in public administration from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and a master\'s degree from Western Governors University. She is a 2023-24 graduate of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative and served as a Division-I student-athlete during her time as a Mustang.