Changes Enabling Focus On Advocacy, Building Lobbying Team
The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) has announced a
significant reorganization which will shift the focus of the
organization to building advocacy and lobbying capabilities and
ensuring thought leadership on legislative and policy matters.
ATA President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio, who was tapped to head
the association last month, said Tuesday the changes reflect a
shift, leveraging the association's strong operations and technical
expertise with a significant increase in outreach to key
stakeholders to advance policy and legislative issues. "As an
association, we have strong technical and operational expertise
that we will better leverage in our advocacy efforts with Congress,
the Administration and other key stakeholders," Calio said. "The
airline industry drives the economy and creates jobs, and with
these changes, we are building the foundation that will enable the
ATA to be the leading advocate for the industry, and ensure that
the legislative and regulatory environment helps promote the growth
of commercial aviation."
From the standpoint of regulation, taxation and fees, and
capital costs, the airline industry is more complex and challenged
than most others, Calio said. "The direction from our board of
directors is clear: ATA must build the capability to be a
cutting-edge advocate for the industry, so that we can build a
better understanding of the barriers that prevent commercial
aviation in the United States from being sustainably profitable and
from contributing even more to the global economy," Calio said.
Nicholas Calio
Changes to the association include the promotion of Sharon
Pinkerton to Senior Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory
Policy, a new position. In this role, Pinkerton will lead policy
development on legislative and regulatory matters, and will
continue to work with Capitol Hill and the Administration.
Pinkerton joined the ATA in 2006. An attorney and certified public
accountant, Pinkerton was assistant administrator for aviation
policy, planning and environment at the FAA. She also served as
transportation counsel to then House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman
John L. Mica (R-FL.) and served on Capitol Hill for nearly 10
years.
A new Senior Vice President of Global Government Affairs will be
hired. In addition, the organization plans to add other top-line
lobbyists to the government affairs function.
Tom Hendricks is promoted to Senior Vice president of Safety,
Security and Operations. Hendricks will take on responsibility for
the technical and operational functions at ATA. He joined ATA in
June as Vice President of Operations and Safety. Previously, he was
Chief Pilot and then Director of Line Operations at Delta Air
Lines. A retired Air Force Reserve colonel, Hendricks also served
as a U.S. Navy officer.
These appointments join recently announced Senior Vice President
of Communications Jean Medina along with CFO Paul Archambeault and
General Counsel David Berg, in comprising the leadership team
reporting to Calio.
As part of the reorganization, the ATA announced that Chief
Operating Officer John Meenan and Chief of Staff Patty Higginbotham
will be leaving the association. "Both John and Patty have made
significant contributions to the ATA and the industry, and the
board and I thank them for their service and their commitment to
ATA," Calio said.
With other changes, Tuesday's reorganization impacted
approximately 10 percent of the association's staff.