MATA board members said they were ‘blindsided’ by halted CEO search before more than half resigned
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - More than half of the board members handpicked by Memphis Mayor Paul Young to lead public transportation in Memphis have resigned amid the new CEO search.
Those members who resigned are:
- Sandi Klink
- Emily Greer
- Anna Mcquiston
- Jackson McNeil
- Brian Marflak
The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) board was ready to interview finalists for the job this week, but the City of Memphis and the Memphis City Council paused the search to expand it and include more candidates.
At Wednesday’s MATA board meeting, members said they were blindsided by that call.
Among the resignations was MATA board chairwoman Emily Greer. Action News 5 asked her in March why she accepted the position, given MATA’s $60 million deficit and serious operational challenges.
“Because ‘A,’ the mayor did ask. He’s a young, smart man who raised his hand to lead this community, and I want to support him,” she said. “I want to support this city. And I’ve done that for a number of years. I’ve worked with Mayor Strickland when asked to. And I think to whom much is given, much is required. So how could I say no?“
The city’s contract with consulting group TransPro, which was hired to turn around MATA, ends Friday.
The Memphis City Council plans to appoint a trustee to run MATA until a new CEO is hired.
Mayor Young’s office released the following statement:
“As we move forward, our priority remains to ensure safe and reliable transit for all riders.
We will outline the next steps soon, including those to provide stability and strengthen oversight."
Action News 5’s Imani Williams will have more on MATA’s recent leadership woes at 10 p.m.
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