Jackson Municipal Airport Authority CEO Carl Newman has abruptly resigned after five years in charge of Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International (JAN).
Newman, who came to JAN in 2014 after working as general manager at George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), helped bring national carrier Frontier Airlines to the airport.
But he was also enmeshed in a dispute between the city of Jackson and the state of Mississippi over attempts to put the airport under the control of a new regional authority.
The city of Jackson has sued the state and the lawsuit has brought the move to a halt. The local Clarion-Ledger newspaper reports that rumors of Newman’s resignation had been circulating for months.
The newspaper added that Perry Miller, hired as COO of JAN in 2015, has been appointed interim CEO until as permanent replacement is named.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba issued a statement, saying, “We thank Carl Newman for his time and service as CEO of Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport and we pray for success in his future endeavors. We will ensure that the airport continues to have visionary and effective leadership and we remain committed to the continued growth and development of the airport moving forward.”
