Jackson airport CEO sought

A Jacksonville, Fla.-based executive search firm was hired July 28 to find a skilled economic development professional to be the new CEO of the Jackson (Miss.) Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport. Current airport CEO Dirk Vanderleest is retiring after 25 years. The Jackson airport has ample property available that can be used to offset revenue from airlines that have left the market. Southwest Airlines halted service to and from Jackson in June taking about $800,000 a year in revenue. “You need someone who can make that happen,” said Doug Kuelpman, founder of the ADK Executive Search firm hired by the Airport Authority. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal 08/01/14)