The Board of Directors of the Ottawa International Airport Authority (OIAA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark B. Laroche as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mr. Laroche will formally assume his new role on March 1st, following the retirement of Paul Benoit, who has held the position for the past sixteen years.
Mr. Laroche joins the OIAA from the Canada Lands Company Limited (CLC), where he currently serves as President and CEO. CLC is a self-financing commercial federal Crown corporation that purchases federal surplus properties at fair market value, improving and selling them, in order to optimize their financial and community value. CLC also holds and operates selected assets, such as the CN Tower in Toronto. Previous to CLC, Mr. Laroche held senior management positions with various Canadian municipalities, including several years as the Chief Administrative Officer for the cities of Gatineau and Brossard.
In welcoming Mr. Laroche to his new role, Chair of the OIAA Board of Directors, Gilles Lalonde stated, “on behalf of airport staff and the entire Board, we are looking forward to having Mark bring his wealth of leadership and management skills to build upon the success of Paul Benoit and guide us forward for the future.”
Commenting on the comprehensive search process that led to the selection of the new CEO, Peter Vice, Chair of the Search Committee and former OIAA Chair, stated, “what impressed us most about Mark was his extensive senior management experience and understanding of complex organizations, especially ones that interface so much with the public.”
“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to be a part of such a great team that has made the Ottawa Airport the success that it is today and to be back in the National Capital Region,” said Mr. Laroche. “It’s such an honour for me to be a part of the best airport in North America and I am excited to join such an exceptional team that is well-known for consistently delivering excellence in customer service.”
A Chartered Director (C.Dir), Mr. Laroche holds a master’s degree in business administration from Concordia University, and a civil engineering degree from the Royal Military College of Canada.
Current President and CEO, Paul Benoit will remain with the Airport until the end of February. In thanking Mr. Benoit for his many exceptional years of service, Chair Lalonde spoke of the Board’s gratitude for his leadership: “Since joining the Ottawa International Airport Authority in 1996, Paul Benoit has accomplished a great deal including: the successful completion of over $500 million in building and infrastructure projects; piloting Ottawa to the #1 and #2 positions of airports in North America and the world respectively; and spearheading Project Clear Skies, which has contributed over $1 million to charitable projects in our community. We wish him safe travels as he begins his well-earned retirement.”
The Ottawa International Airport Authority (OIAA) operates the Ottawa International Airport without government subsidies under a 60-year lease transfer agreement with Transport Canada. The OIAA’s mandate is to manage, operate and develop airport facilities and lands in support of the economic growth of the National Capital Region.