News List

 Mayor’s Office of Communications
55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 2500 • Atlanta, Georgia 30303

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 01/17/2014

News Release

Mayor Reed Announces Airport General Manager Search Committee

Miguel Southwell to continue as interim GM during national search

ATLANTA - Mayor Kasim Reed announced today the members of the committee that will oversee the national search for the next general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The international executive search firm Korn Ferry will work with the search committee to find, vet, interview and recommend candidates to lead the world’s busiest airport. During the search process, Miguel Southwell will continue to serve as interim general manager. Carol Tomé, chief financial officer of The Home Depot will chair the eight-member search committee.

“Atlanta’s Airport is a vital economic engine for the region and identifying the right person to lead this organization is a critical priority,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “In addition to maintaining our position as the world’s busiest passenger airport and expanding our air cargo capabilities, the next general manager must also work to ensure the long-term success of Hartsfield-Jackson and its trajectory as a leading airport in the world. With the help of my newly appointed search committee, I am confident that we will identify the right candidate for the job.”

The new general manager will be responsible for completing the airport’s master plan, growing air cargo, generating new revenues, and other projects that will spur economic development for Atlanta and the region.

City of Atlanta COO Duriya Farooqui will work with Tomé to launch the search process and Human Resources Commissioner Yvonne Cowser Yancy will support the committee’s work.

The members of the committee include:

• Chair: Carol Tomé, chief financial officer, The Home Depot
• Taylor Glover, president and CEO, Turner Enterprises, Inc.
• Cathy Hampton, city attorney, City of Atlanta
• Darryl Harmon, president – Southeast, Wells Fargo & Co.
• Louis Miller, former general manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• Ben Myers, political director, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
• Scott Taylor, president, Carter USA
• Loretta Walker, SVP and chief HR Officer, Turner Broadcasting System

The search committee will make its final recommendation of the top five candidates to Mayor Reed in March 2014. Once the search committee makes its final recommendations, Mayor Reed will select the candidate for the position. The airport general manager reports to the Chief Operating Officer and the appointment will require Atlanta City Council confirmation.

# # #

For more information about the City of Atlanta, please visit http://www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26. Follow the City of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter @CityofAtlanta. Follow Mayor Reed on Facebook and Twitter @Kasim Reed