Tampa airport CEO search down to two internal execs

The search for a new CEO for Tampa International Airport is down to two candidates after the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority’s board voted Wednesday on the finalists.

The two men left standing to replace retiring CEO Joe Lopano are Michael Stephens, the airport’s general counsel and executive vice president, and John Tiliacos, its executive vice president of operations and customer service.

The board voted unanimously Wednesday morning to cut in half a list of four possible replacements and set a Nov. 12 special meeting for Stephens and Tiliacos to make public presentations.