Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has appointed Miguel Southwell general manager at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL). Southwell has been serving as interim general manager since January, when former general manager Louis Miller retired.
Southwell’s permanent appointment still must be confirmed by the Atlanta City Council.
Southwell was one of three finalists for the position this year and was also a finalist for the position in 2010, when Miller was appointed to the post. Other finalists in the 2014 search were Deborah Ale Flint, director of aviation at Oakland International (OAK), and Paul Wiedefeld, executive director of the Maryland Aviation Administration.
Southwell joined the Atlanta Department of Aviation in 2013 as the deputy general manager of commercial operations. Prior to his ATL post, he was the deputy director of business retention and development for the Miami-Dade Aviation Department. He worked for that entity for 12 years, where he oversaw various aspects of airport operations, including human resources; procurement; contracts; food, beverage and retail concessions; parking; car rental and a hotel.
Previously, Southwell worked for ATL from 1990 to 2001 in various roles, including interim assistant general manager for two years.
“I’m confident that Miguel Southwell is the right executive to continue Hartsfield-Jackson’s dominance as the world’s busiest passenger airport and grow its capabilities as a leading global cargo hub,” Reed says. “His experience in Miami, and prior experience in Atlanta, is the right fit to carry out my vision for our airport to be the nation’s leader in the logistics and air cargo space.”
According to Reed’s office, Southwell’s primary responsibilities will include “developing and implementing a strategic plan to further the goals of Mayor Reed and the city of Atlanta, while ensuring the airport’s continued success as the region’s leading economic generator.”
Southwell will be tasked with rolling out and initiating ATL’s new master plan that will guide the airport’s development path through 2030, completing the expansion of the airport’s $500 million concessions program, executing Reed’s mission to make the airport and Atlanta the logistics hub of the Western hemisphere, and growing international air service.
