Departed Indianapolis airport CEO to lead Gary/Chicago International Airport

The Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority's hiring of a $350-per-hour consultant is drawing attention because of his recent departure as CEO of the Indianapolis International Airport Authority.

At its meeting Monday, the Gary Airport authority voted 4-0 to hire a company run by John Clark, former Indianapolis airport CEO, for an amount not to exceed $5,000 per month for six months. His company, JClark Aviation Group, will be paid $350 per hour under the contract approved by the authority.

Clark left the Indianapolis airport's top job last month after the airport declined to renew his contract. He had been chief executive for three years.

The Indianapolis Business Journal recently reported Clark and two others spent more than $67,000 last year on travel to destinations such as Brazil, Denmark and Morocco. Clark has said many of the trips were related to his role with an industry trade group.

WTHR-TV and other news outlets in Indianapolis on Tuesday were reporting on Clark's hiring in Gary, citing his abrupt departure from the Indianapolis airport job and the reported spending on trips while CEO of the Indianapolis airport.

Clark was hired to help the Gary airport with business development, airport interim Director Steve Landry said. He referred other questions on the hiring to Gary airport authority President Nathaniel Williams.

Williams could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2012 - The Times, Munster, Ind.