Ron Mathieu, who has led Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field since 2008, is resigning to take the top job at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Ala.
Mathieu's resignation is effective May 31.
Clinton National Airport, the state's largest, had 1 million boardings last year. It employs 150 people and has a $34 million annual operating budget.
Jesse Mason, chairman of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission, said in a prepared statement that the commission will name an interim executive director while a search for Mathieu's successor takes place.
"We are extremely appreciative of Ron’s service," Mason said in the statement. "The Commission and Staff will sorely miss his leadership that has led to the biggest transformation in our airport’s history. During Ron’s 13 years in Little Rock, the airport has become debt free while undergoing nearly $100 million in terminal improvements, increased passenger satisfaction levels, expanded aviation manufacturing and generated billions of dollars in economic impact."
Mathieu joined the airport staff in 2006 as deputy director. He was named interim director in December 2007 and became executive director the following June.
Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.