Sara Azu
Chief Administration Officer
As Chief Administrative Officer of DESC, Sara Azu is responsible for oversight and management of grants, compliance, procurement and contract functions, facilities, IT, and project management. With a strong focus on people, process, and technology as the foundations for continuous improvement, Sara works to ensure DESC operates with efficiency while complying with local, state, and federal regulations.
Sara Azu is a results-oriented leader with over 20 years of multifaceted experience in operational oversight, strategic planning, process transformation, data analysis, financial performance, and client relationship management. She has assisted numerous clients in both non-profit and corporate settings across a variety of industries with assessing opportunities for improvement and developing strategies for success.
Sara was previously the Chief Operating Officer of the Motown Museum where she oversaw Finance, HR, Procurement, Museum and Retail Operations, Marketing, Museum Collections, Facilities, Programs, and Special Events. She was also a Senior Director with Kelly Services’ Outsourcing and Consulting Group responsible for operational excellence and service delivery for contingent workforce solutions for the Consumer Goods and Services practice in the Americas. She also managed engagements for numerous Fortune 500 Companies resulting in stronger financial and competitive positions for clients during her Management Consulting career with Ernst & Young, Plante Moran, and Anderson Consulting (now Accenture).
Sara earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
She enjoys spending time with her family and working with several community service organizations.