Tampa International Airport names new CEO after 10-month search

Michael Stephens, the longtime legal counsel at Tampa International Airport, has been chosen as the organization’s new CEO and will take over for the retiring Joe Lopano.

Stephens, 52, was chosen to run the organization, which sees an estimated 25 million passengers each year, Tuesday morning by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority’s board of directors.

His compensation and an official start date have yet to be negotiated, according to a statement from the airport.