Airport taps executive search firm

A Florida executive search firm has been selected to help undertake a national search for a new boss at the state’s largest airport.

Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field is looking to replace its longtime executive director, Ron Mathieu, who began a similar job at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Alabama in June.

ADK Consulting and Executive Search of Atlantic Beach, Fla., one of four companies responding to a request for qualifications, emerged with a recommendation following a review of all four by airport staff and members of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission.

ADK is a 16-year-old firm that performs senior management and executive-level leadership searches. Its tools include recruitment brochures; extensive network and outreach; personality, team and leadership assessment tools; and success guaranties.

The firm’s hires include executives at several airports. At least three members of its team — an associate and two senior project managers — are accredited airport executives.

The commission on Tuesday voted to hire ADK and authorize the airport’s procurement director, Elwin Jones, to negotiate and execute an agreement for executive search services with ADK. The agreement will have an initial term of three years with a three-year extension at the option of the executive director.

Jesse Mason, the commission chairman, said the expectation is to have a new executive hired before the end of the year. The interim executive director, Bryan Malinowski, said the search contract will range from $30,000 to $40,000.

The commission named Malinowski on May 31 to run the airport on an interim basis. Malinowski, Mathieu’s former top deputy, is drawing an annual salary of $216,215.65. The commission voted to increase his salary 7% while he serves dual roles.