High-Flying Airport Executive Out Of A Job

John Clark, the high-flying, controversial CEO of the Indianapolis Airport Authority is out of a job according to Fox 59 News. His lavish travel expenditures since taking over as the airport's CEO in 2009 have been the subject of numerous media reports from the very start of his tenure in Indianapolis. Mayor Greg Ballard tells Fox 59 News Clark's firing was about the lack of economic development progress at the new airport as opposed to his lavish spending on travel.

"What I’m mostly concerned about out there is the economic development aspect of the airport,” said Mayor Ballard. "I think that’s been slow, much slower than I would have expected.

"It may have been the recession. It may have been all the economic downturn but I want to have more plans for development out there. That’s what I’m mostly focused on."

In a terse statement released by the mayor's office commenting on Clark's resignation, Ballard thanked Clark "for his service to Indianapolis and for helping launch efforts to grown the potential of our new $1 billion terminal." "He played an important role in managing one of our most vital economic development assets and the gateway visitors to our city," the statement said.

 

This blog wondered why the airport authority hired Clark given the controversy that his previous tenure at Jacksonville International Airport brought. A leopard really can't change his spots.