DFW EVP And Airline Veteran Selected To Lead Tampa Airports

The Tampa International Airport five-member board of directors has selected Dallas executive vice president Joseph W. Lopano as Tampa’s new chief executive officer. The members held a special meeting this week to discuss the final two candidates and select a finalist.

Tampa Area Sectional

The members say they were very impressed with both candidates and spoke very highly of Lester Robinson, former Detroit Metropolitan Airport. However, it was a unanimous vote for Lopano. Airport officials and the recruiting firm are now in contract negotiations with Lopano. A final vote on the agreement is expected at the October 7th airport board meeting..

Joseph W. Lopano, 55, is the current Executive Vice President, Marketing & Terminal Management for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, is an airline veteran and has been with the Airport since January of 1997. He is responsible for passenger and cargo network development, advertising and marketing programs for the Airport, customer service, and real estate as it relates to contractual negotiations with airline tenants.

Lopano has extensive experience in the airline business, having held management positions at Continental Airlines, Lufthansa, BWIA and Pan Am. He has held leadership roles in financial planning, international route development, advertising and frequent flyer programs. While at Continental, Lopano was the project director for “Business First,” the launch of Continental’s new business class product.

Tampa International Airport Control Tower

Lopano received a bachelor’s in finance and accounting from Pace University in New York and has done graduate work in marketing at the University of Connecticut. He is married and has three children.

FMI: www.tampaairport.com