Leadership changes for LA Metrolink
Written by jrood
After a closed session personnel discussion amongst the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of the Southern California Regional Rail Authority Keith Millhouse announced that Metrolink CEO David Solow would change his role at the agency effective December 15, 2009. The Board of Directors and Solow have agreed that he will step down as CEO and for the balance of this fiscal year, until June 30, 2010, he will remain with the agency devoting full time to the interagency collaborations necessary for Metrolink to implement safety enhancements, including Positive Train Control, and interoperability agreements.
"Metrolink has the opportunity to usher in the era of dramatic
enhancements in rail travel in this region and in this country, such as
Positive Train Control and the addition of High Speed Rail," said
Millhouse. "With Mr. Solo’s expertise focused on interagency
collaboration, Metrolink has a unique ability to bring together public
and private railroads to improve passenger safety and service in our
complex railroad operating environment."
Solow’s expertise and
experience in the interagency operations issues facing commuter rail
are widely acknowledged and respected. The Board is appointing him to a
new position of "Advisor: Interagency Initiatives," which reports to
the Chief Executive Officer. He will be working pursuant to an at-will
contract through this fiscal year at his current salary.
To lead
the agency into this new era of commuter rail, the Board will
immediately begin the recruitment of a successor Chief Executive
Officer.
In the interim, the Board is fortunate to be able to
name as Chief Executive Officer Mr. Eric Haley effective December 15,
2009. Haley will be working under an at will contract as Metrolink’s
Chief Executive Officer until the arrival of a new CEO, but for not
more than six months. He brings a wealth of experience to this position
from both the public and private sectors and is very familiar with
Metrolink and its member agencies based on his experience as the former
CEO of the Riverside County Transportation Commission, a Metrolink
member agency.
One of Mr. Haley’s priorities will be to direct
the Board’s search for the new CEO to lead Metrolink to being this
nation’s premier commuter railroad. The Board anticipates hiring a CEO
within the first half of 2010. Mr. Haley has agreed that he is not a
candidate for the new CEO position.
