CEO/GM sought for MBTA

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has launched a search for a permanent CEO and General Manager for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker made the announcement during an address before the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he recommended that the MBTA‘s Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) exercise the two-year extension of its governance of the MBTA, as permitted by statute. Chief Administrator Brian Shortsleeve will continue to serve as Acting General Manager in the interim and will sit on the search panel.

“The MBTA is showing real progress in its turnaround, from vastly improved winter operations to cutting its operating deficit by more than half, but more work is needed to deliver better and more efficient results to riders and taxpayers,” said Gov. Baker. “As the MBTA enters this next phase, the time is right for a transformative and permanent General Manager with a strong business background and experience in delivering major capital programming and providing direct service to customers. The unrelenting dedication and talent provided by [MassDOT] Secretary [Stephanie] Pollack, Brian Shortsleeve and Jeff Gonneville has steered the MBTA in a better direction and we look forward to their steady leadership as the search for a turnaround CEO proceeds. The FMCB is playing a critical role in reforming the MBTA and we welcome their request to extend their governance to continue the MBTA’s turnaround.”

Secretary Pollack, who by statute is charged with hiring the MBTA’s General manager, has created a GM Search Advisory Panel and is in the process of securing an executive search firm “to identify a CEO-style GM whose primary focus will be to continue the work of changing the MBTA’s culture to focus on performance, capital investment and improved customer service.” The search process will be coordinated closely with members of the FMCB, and board member Steve Poftak will serve on the search panel.

“The MBTA now has the momentum to implement changes that will give customers the service they need and deserve and to rebuild its aging infrastructure,” said Pollack. “A new General Manager and the continued partnership of the FMCB will create the stability necessary for the MBTA to complete its transformation into the high-performing, customer-focused transit agency to better serve the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”