Orlando’s aviation authority Wednesday selected a Seattle airport executive as the next CEO of Orlando International Airport, the nation’s seventh busiest.

Lance Lyttle, managing director of aviation for Seattle-Tacoma Airport, will take the leadership reins as early as April, pending the finalization of his contract.

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, the public entity that runs the airport, launched its search in December following CEO Kevin Thibault’s resignation. Thibault said he is stepping down to care for his wife, who is ill.

On Wednesday, the board voted unanimously to select Lyttle as his successor. Lyttle was the runner-up during the agency’s last CEO search in 2021.

Korn Ferry, the airport’s executive search firm, recommended Lyttle, who attended Wednesday’s meeting.

Tim Weisheyer, chairman of the airport board, said he was impressed by Lyttle’s vision on everything from transportation to baggage handling. The airport has acknowledged it desperately needs to upgrade its antiquated baggage handling in Terminals A and B.

“He’s clearly a forward-thinking, innovative leader who’s going to help us move our strategic plan into the future… He also understands the mechanics of running an airport at an exceptional level,” Weisheyer said.

Other board members praised Lyttle’s credentials during a brief discussion during Wednesday’s meeting. In a statement, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings highlighted Lyttle’s “broad, diverse experience,” calling him a “true airport executive who will bring unique insights to our airports.”

Lyttle began his aviation career in 1999 at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta as chief information officer. He was then appointed chief strategy and performance officer for the Houston Airport System before moving through the ranks to chief development officer and chief operating officer.

Central Florida’s growth was one of the factors that made the Orlando position appealing, Lyttle said.

“Airports are successful primarily because of the region they’re in,” he said. “If there’s economic growth, that will drive the demand for travel.”

He added Florida’s weather and the proximity to family were other appealing aspects of the job.

No other candidates’ names were mentioned during the meeting.

The selection process sparked concerns from the Florida Center for Government Accountability. The group’s public access director, Michael Barfield, said candidate vetting should take place in public meetings. The airport authority is subject to Florida’s open meetings and public records laws.

Downs said the one-on-one interviews were purely informational, and no ranking of candidates occurred in secret.

“No motions were made,” she said. “No decisions were made.”

The airport authority agreed to pay Korn Ferry $95,000 to conduct the search. That payment is reduced to $79,325 if the new CEO is hired from within the organization or is identified through other sources, according to the agreement.

It’s a big job. With more than 57 million annual passengers, Orlando International Airport is the nation’s seventh busiest airport.

The aviation authority’s board hired Thibault, a former Florida Department of Transportation secretary, in January 2022 at an annual base salary of $375,000. His resignation date was Jan. 31 of this year, but Thibault agreed to stay on until a replacement is in place.

Weisheyer said Lyttle’s compensation will be subject to final contract negotiations.

The airport is governed by a seven-member board. Five governor-appointed members serve on the panel, along with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Demings.