John F. Barros (born 1973) is an American politician, businessman, and civic organizer who was formerly the chief of economic development for the City of Boston.

He is currently the managing principal for the Boston office of the real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield.

After completing his education at BC High, Barros then went on to attend Dartmouth College in Hanover New Hampshire.

[9] In 1996 Barros began working as executive liability underwriter for the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies in New York City.

[citation needed] In 1999, he returned to Boston to assume the position of executive director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) in 1999.

[18] In January 2010, Barros was appointed by Mayor Tom Menino to a seat on the Boston School Committee.

[20] At the time he was appointed to the committee, he was additionally studying for a master's degree in public policy from Tufts University, which he later attained.

Barros' first two years in the position saw him hold a low public profile, working largely behind-the-scenes.

[8] The Boston Globe jointly named Barros, Jay Ash, Steve Kadish, and Dan Koh its 2016 "Bostonians of the Year", crediting them with having been behind the deal which brought General Electric's headquarters to the city, each having done so, "with marching orders from their bosses".

[34]Early into his tenure, Barros stated his desire for businesses to extend their opening hours later into the night.

[39] Disclosed emails show that he played a role in coordinating with other Massachusetts cities about Boston's bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Mayor Walsh would not be seeking re-election, being nominated by newly-inaugurated U.S. president Joe Biden to serve in Cabinet as secretary of labor.

[46] On the day of the primary election, The Boston Globe characterized him as, "trailing the pack" in opinion polls.

In November 2021, Barros became managing principal of the Boston office of the real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield.

[49] In January 2022, Barros became the first-ever visiting professional at Boston College's Joseph E. Corcoran Center for Real Estate and Urban Action at the Carroll School of Management.

[18] He has two children and resides in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, where he has served as a lay leader at St. Patrick's Catholic Church.