diff --git a/.changeset/repo-p-lisa.md b/.changeset/repo-p-lisa.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d6a0fa56f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/repo-p-lisa.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+'@backstage/repo-tools': patch
+---
+
+The `generate-catalog-info` command now uses the first listed `CODEOWNER` as Component owner when initially
+creating the `catalog-info.yaml` file. It continues to allow any one listed `CODEOWNER` when updating
+entity metadata.
diff --git a/packages/repo-tools/src/commands/generate-catalog-info/codeowners.ts b/packages/repo-tools/src/commands/generate-catalog-info/codeowners.ts
index f485e872e9..25703e4fc2 100644
--- a/packages/repo-tools/src/commands/generate-catalog-info/codeowners.ts
+++ b/packages/repo-tools/src/commands/generate-catalog-info/codeowners.ts
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ export function getOwnerFromCodeowners(
 ): string {
   const relPath = relativePath('.', absPath);
   const possibleOwners = getPossibleCodeowners(codeowners, relPath);
-  const owner = possibleOwners.slice(-1)[0];
+  const owner = possibleOwners[0];
 
   if (!owner) {
     throw new Error(`${relPath} isn't owned by anyone in CODEOWNERS`);