After revelations about a possible conflict of interest involving a high-ranking official at Hartsfield-Jackson International, the executive has been terminated from the airport.
Hartsfield-Jackson general manager Roosevelt Council sent a termination letter dated March 6 to Cortez Carter, who was assistant general manager of commercial development and business ventures at Hartsfield-Jackson. The AJC previously reported that Carter no longer worked for the airport, and the newly released letter confirms that he was fired.
Carter was put on leave late last year after it was revealed that his wife Charisse Works Carter has a company that does business in Washington, D.C. with Atlanta airport concessionaire Hojeij Branded Foods.
The city of Atlanta's ethics office last year began a preliminary investigation into the matter.
Some of the contracts with Hojeij pre-date Carter's time as an executive for the world's busiest airport. But the company also has been chosen for several new contracts for restaurants and shops on Concourse B, C and E while he held the position.
The latest contracts hang in the balance, pending approval by Atlanta City Council and the mayor.
Carter was hired in 2015 to lead an airport division called ATL Business Ventures. But in 2017 he was promoted and added commercial development to his responsibilities — including concessions and concessions development.
In October and November of last year, while Carter was overseeing concessions, Hojeij was notified it was selected as one of the companies to open new restaurants on Concourse E and selected for a retail contract. Those are among the contracts that have not yet been approved by city council.
The mayor’s office says Carter was not involved in decisions to extend contracts and was not on evaluation committees for other concessions contracts Hojeij competed for.
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