03
September
2014
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17:55 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

Airport Board of Directors Pick Joseph W. Lopano as New CEO

September 29, 2010

The Tampa International Airport five-member board of directors has selected Dallas executive vice president Joseph W. Lopano as Tampa’s new chief executive officer. The members held a special meeting to discuss the final two candidates and select a finalist. 

The members were very impressed with both candidates and spoke very highly of Lester Robinson, former Detroit Metropolitan Airport. However, it was a unanimous vote for Lopano. 

Airport board members include:

  • Al Austin, Chairman, Austin Companies 
  • Steven Burton, Vice Chairman, Broad and Cassel 
  • Joseph Diaco, M.D., Secretary 
  • Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan, Treasurer 
  • City of Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer 

The airport’s general counsel Gigi Rechel and recruiter Michael Bell, Spencer Stuart, were requested to negotiate a contract with Lopano and bring it back for a vote at the October 7th airport board meeting for final approval. 

Joseph W. Lopano, 55, is the current Executive Vice President, Marketing & Terminal Management for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, is an airline veteran and has been with the Airport since January of 1997. He is responsible for passenger and cargo network development, advertising and marketing programs for the Airport, customer service, and real estate as it relates to contractual negotiations with airline tenants.

Lopano has extensive experience in the airline business, having held management positions at Continental Airlines, Lufthansa, BWIA and Pan Am. He has held leadership roles in financial planning, international route development, advertising and frequent flyer programs. While at Continental, Lopano was the project director for “Business First,” the launch of Continental’s new business class product. 

Lopano received a bachelor’s in finance and accounting from Pace University in New York and has done graduate work in marketing at the University of Connecticut. He Lopano is married and has three children. 

-TPA-