Lester Sola, the director of Miami International Airport (MIA) since February 2018, resigned this week, according to a memo to county commissioners from Miami Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
The Miami Herald reported that the resignation came abruptly and follows months of “friction” regarding MIA contracts and agreements.
Ralph Cutié, the aviation department’s assistant director for facilities management and engineering, has been appointed as interim director. The memo said that Sola will continue through September 1 to assist in the transition, and thereafter in a part-time advisory role until mid-2022.
Levine Cava thanked Sola for his leadership through the pandemic and welcomed the new interim director. “I’m committed to working closely with the new director to ensure we are providing a safe and positive workplace for thousands of employees and contractors, and leveraging contracting opportunities to expand equitable economic development for more small and local businesses, as we continue to grow tourism and trade at one of the nation’s busiest international airports,” she said in the memo.
