WMATA Board appoints Requa as interim general manager/CEO

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) appointed Jack Requa as interim general manager and chief executive officer (CEO) and commended the service of General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Richard Sarles, who is retiring on January 16. Requa, who joined WAMTA in April 1998, is currently the assistant general manager for Bus Services.

 

“We are confident that Requa will effectively partner with the board to advance our safety programs including Fatigue Management, move forward on FY16 budget and capital funding discussions and advance WMATA’s Customer Care initiative, as well as ensure that we stay on track to strengthen our compliance efforts,” said Board Chairman Tom Downs. “We deeply appreciate Jack’s leadership at this important time for the authority.”

Downs said that the executive search to identify qualified transportation professionals for the general manager/CEO position is well underway and the board expects to make a final selection early this year.

The board also commended the extraordinary service of Sarles. The resolution recognized that under his leadership, WMATA rebuilt its safety culture, reducing employee injuries for four consecutive years; advanced WAMTA Forward capital investments that improved safety, reliability and increased escalator availability to a five-year high; opened the Silver Line and greatly improved WMATA’s communication with its customers. The board also credited Sarles for his work to develop Momentum, the authority’s strategic plan.

The WAMATA Board also appointed a new board corporate secretary. Jennifer Green-Ellison will serve as the liaison between the board of directors, the authority, its advisory bodies and the public. She has served as the acting board secretary since October 2014 and previously was the director of srategic communications in WMATA’s Office of the Chief of Staff.

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