Mark Webb, director of San Antonio International (SAT) since June 2006, will resign from his position as of Sept. 19.
The following Monday, he’ll begin leading a $900M capital program as vice president of facilities development and project management for University Health System.
Webb leaves SAT as the city of San Antonio is embarking on building two new terminals. Builders broke ground on the first one this summer.
SAT is in the middle of upgrading much of its infrastructure as part of a 10-year, $635M capital-improvement program. Its new 3,000-space parking garage was completed $5M under budget and four months early.
Webb also reportedly told business leaders this week at a Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce luncheon that SAT is working on adding two new air carriers, jetBlue Airways and Interjet, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
He told attendees that SAT has “weathered the storm pretty well” as it navigates through a tumultuous year filled with industrywide problems ranging from a lagging economy to high fuel costs.
An airport spokesman could not immediately be reached, but Webb told the San Antonio Business Journal that his decision to leave had nothing to do with comments made in July by Dallas-based AT&T Inc. that indicated SAT lacked the stature needed to meet the international travel needs of a large corporation.
“I was approached about it. This was one of those once-in-a-lifetime things,” he told the paper. “It’s a great opportunity and it’s one thing I didn’t think I could pass up. It’s a very exciting project at UHS and it will have a significant impact … on the community.”
Webb has worked for the city since 1994 in several capacities. Prior to assuming the director position in June 2006, he had served as interim aviation director. He had also worked in the city’s Contract Services Department, the city manager’s office, and in the Convention Center Expansion office.
The city reportedly will conduct a nationwide search for Webb’s replacement.
