The NEW METRO's Board of Directors in Houston, Texas, named George Greanias, president & CEO of the agency. Greanias, a former Houston City councilman and city controller, has served as METRO's acting president & CEO since May 2010.

"In the few short months that George has been at the helm of the NEW METRO, he has already shown his remarkable leadership skills in shifting the agency toward a more transparent, more community-focused direction," said Board Chairman Gilbert A. Garcia, CFA. "The Board and I are confident he can complete the ambitious agenda set out for the agency, including building light rail, improving the bus fleet and transforming METRO into a regional mobility partner."

Garcia said Greanias' base salary would remain the same as when he served as acting president & CEO - $19,585 per month. The complete, one-page contract is now posted on METRO's Web site, www.ridemetro.org.

As president & CEO, Greanias will oversee an agency with 3,500 employees and about a $1-billion annual budget. METRO is working to complete the build out of five new light-rail lines, approved by voters in a 2003 referendum.

Greanias told the Board he is honored to be selected for this position.

"We have a great organization with a critical mission," Greanias said. "Apart from education, METRO has perhaps the most critical function for building the future of this community. For somebody who loves this city the way I do, and who is going to spend the rest of his life here, you cannot have given me a greater gift."

Prior to joining METRO, Greanias served as a partner at CLG, one of America's leading behavioral management firms, where he specialized in helping complex organizations develop the behaviors needed to generate sustained long-term success.  

From 1982 through 1987, Greanias was a member of the Houston City Council, representing the more than 270,000 residents of District C. Following his tenure on council, Greanias served as controller for the City of Houston until 1995.