Reed will name interim airport manager

By Kelly Yamanouchi

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed plans to name an interim manager to run Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after general manager Ben DeCosta departs at the end of the month.

DeCosta's interim replacement will be announced this week, Reed spokeswoman Sonji Jacobs Dade said.

It's unclear how long the search for a permanent airport leader will take. Reed had said he wanted a successor lined up by the time DeCosta left, but his search committee, led by Home Depot chief financial officer Carol Tomé, only was formed last week. The panel will have a time frame for the selection process shortly, according to Dade.

"The Mayor wants to ensure that the City hires the best person possible for the position," Dade said in an e-mail message. The search committee "will work expeditiously."

DeCosta announced in January that he would leave the airport after more than a decade at its helm. Reed, elected last fall, did not ask DeCosta to stay on. In April, DeCosta's No. 2, assistant general manager Mario Diaz, accepted a job to lead the Houston Airport System.

Other assistant general managers at Hartsfield-Jackson are Robert Kennedy, Arnaldo Ruiz, Jim Drinkard and Milton Castillo.