Ontario International Airport CEO Mark Thorpe this week interviewed as a finalist for a job in Florida, but it was not immediately clear whether he’s planning to leave Southern California.
Thorpe, one of four finalists for the CEO position at Orlando International Airport, ultimately was not chosen for the position, the Florida airport’s parent agency announced Wednesday, Jan. 19.
Thorpe did not return phone calls seeking comment by late Thursday. Ontario International Airport Authority board President Alan Wapner also did not return a phone call Thursday.
Curt Hagman, chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and a member of the OIAA board, said he suspected that Thorpe was looking to leave ONT and was seeking employment elsewhere.
“I knew he may be looking,” Hagman said. He would not discuss whether Thorpe has been unhappy at ONT.
“We really appreciate what Mark contributed during his tenure as CEO (of Ontario airport) and wish him the best going forward,” Hagman said.
Thorpe joined the Ontario airport in September 2016 and became CEO in October 2017, around the time the airport gained its local control from the city of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles World Airports. He’s been CEO for most of the time since the airport gained its independence and formed a joint powers authority with the city of Ontario and the county of San Bernardino.
In 2020, Thorpe earned $435,388 in total wages, according to the California State Controller’s Office.
Yet despite his prominence at ONT, he was absent from the airport’s five-year anniversary gala held at the Ontario Convention Center on Nov. 1, 2021. Thorpe’s name was not mentioned during the event and he was not part of the program, which was emceed by Deputy CEO Atif Elkadi.
For the past six months, Thorpe has not attended OIAA board meetings, according to past OIAA meeting minutes. The minutes reveal that Elkadi would sign contracts with new terminal vendors or construction contractors with his name and the notation “for Mark Thorpe.”
Thorpe’s performance was evaluated by the OIAA board on four separate meetings in 2021. According to records, these took place on Aug. 13, Aug. 26, Sept. 13 and Oct. 28.
Related links
- Ontario airport celebrates 5 years of independence from Los Angeles
- With final $23.3 million payment, Ontario airport transfer of ownership is complete
- Passenger volume grows at Ontario airport in 2021 but falls short of pre-pandemic level
- Ontario airport is 2nd in nation for air cargo growth in 2020
- Los Angeles agrees to turn over Ontario airport
Earlier this month, Thorpe was identified as one of four finalists out of 60 applicants for the Orlando airport job. This week, after a question-and-answer final interview Wednesday with the candidates, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority board selected Florida Secretary of Transportation Kevin Thibault as its next CEO, replacing Phil Brown, who is retiring on Jan. 31.
In addition to Thorpe and Thibault, finalists for the Orlando job included Seattle-Tacoma International Airport CEO Lance Lyttle and Austin Bergstrom International Airport CEO Jackie Yaft.
“Thorpe presented to the board and the board asked questions,” said Carolyn Fennell, director of public affairs for Orlando airport. “They were great candidates.”
One board member described Thorpe as “innovative,” ‘strategic,” “bold” and “inspirational.” Fennell said Thibault got the edge because he works with all the airports in Florida and has wide-ranging experience in various aspects of Florida public transportation.
The position at Orlando International Airport would have been a step up for Thorpe. The Orlando airport experienced about 51 million annual passengers pre-pandemic, as compared to about 5 million at Ontario airport, and is the busiest airport in the state of Florida.
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