Airport expects to interview for top post in August

HIGHFILL — Regional airport board members hope to have a short list of candidates to interview next month to replace their soonto-retire e xecutive director. Scott Van Laningham told the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority board earlier this year he would be retiring, maybe as soon as October. The board hired Russell Reynolds Associates, an executive search firm, to recruit Van Laningham’s replacement. Kelly Johnson, director of the airport, is a candidate. “We don’t need more schedules and conversations,” said authority Chairman Art Formanek. “We need a list of names.” “Bring us a short list,” Finance Committee Chairman Phil Phillips Jr., added. Phillips and other board members said they want to be thorough, but also want to see the process move as quickly as possible because Van Laningham’s time is growing short. Hans Roth, with Russell Reynolds, said Wednesday they’re narrowing the list from about 30 executives and expect to bring four or five prospects to Northwest Arkansas to meet and interview with the board. The format for interviews is being worked out as is the final selection process. XNA began succession planning in October. Russell Reynolds came on board in November. Van Laningham said he expected his replacement to be the priority so that person can be involved in hiring several others for leadership positions, including a chief finance officer, a chief operations officer and possibly a chief business development officer, which would be a new position. Terry Franklin, finance director, has said he plans to

retire in the not-too-distant future. The regional airport has 47 employees and a 2017 budget of about $24 million. Van Laningham makes just over $200,000 per year. Salaries for the similar position at 10 airports, including Little Rock, Tulsa, Okla., Memphis, Tenn., and Omaha, Neb., were averaged and come to about $250,000 per year. Russell Reynolds is also reviewing how duties will be divvied among top management and what the organizational chart will look like and make recommendations to the board. Roth said Wednesday the bigger picture is still being developed, but, based on increasing enplanements, XNA may need to follow the organizational structure used by larger airports, which would require a larger administrative staff. Officials expect about 750,000 people to fly out of the airport this year. Russell Reynolds is being paid about $200,000.