HCAA Board moves forward in TPA CEO selection process

After a summer-long pause, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority's (HCAA) Board of Directors on Thursday resumed progress toward finding Tampa International Airport's next CEO to replace Joe Lopano.

At today's monthly Board of Directors meeting, the Board voted unanimously to approve a motion including all five members in the CEO selection process moving forward. The Board's Finance Committee Members - Brig. Gen. Chip Diehl, Gary Harrod and Robert Watkins - were originally tasked with bringing a candidate recommendation to the rest of the Board. Today's vote means Mayor Jane Castor and Commissioner Harry Cohen, who are not members of the Board's Finance Committee, will participate in all aspects of the selection process, including candidate interviews and discussions.

The four candidates for CEO are internal: Damian Brooke, Executive Vice President of Finance, Procurement and Capital Programs; Michael Stephens, General Counsel and Executive Vice President; John Tiliacos, Executive Vice President of Operations and Customer Service; and Chris Minner, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications. All four have been a part of Lopano's Executive Team for about a decade or more.

The HCAA Board, with help from executive search firm Korn Ferry, solidified a plan to interview the candidates in one-on-one interviews beginning the week of Sept. 30. Board Members plan to reconvene at a Special Board Meeting on Oct. 30 to discuss and vote on their top choice for CEO. Additional meetings may be requested by Board Members during the process.

The Board also outlined a tentative transition plan to hand over the reins from Lopano to the new CEO sometime after the new year. Lopano, who started at TPA in 2011, announced his intent to retire in February. His contract officially ends in April.

To read more about Lopano's impact on TPA and his retirement announcement, go to: https://news.tampaairport.com/tampa-international-airport-ceo-joe-lopano-announces-his-retirement/