CATS CEO Search Committee Recommends Hiring Bill Deville as Permanent CATS CEO
Deville has served as interim CEO since April, led the agency’s response to Baton Rouge flooding
Following a nationwide search for a new Chief Executive Officer, the committee charged with vetting candidates to lead the Capital Area Transit System is recommending Bill Deville, an experienced leader who has worked in transportation for more than 32 years, for the job.
Deville currently serves as the agency’s interim CEO. He took over this role earlier this year. Following the committee’s recommendation, the full CATS board will take up Deville’s appointment at its regularly scheduled board meeting next Tuesday.
Ken Perret, the chair of the CEO search committee, said, “Bill Deville has served CATS well as the interim CEO, most recently leading the agency’s response from the Baton Rouge flooding, during which CATS evacuated 6,000 residents. Bill has a vision for the future of CATS, which includes finding innovative ways to improve our fleet so that we are improving our service to riders in this community.”
Jim Brandt, CATS board chairman, said, “We thank Bill for his service to CATS and are excited about what the future brings for our riders and our staff. We will move forward with bringing Bill’s confirmation to the full board next week.”
Deville is the former CEO of the Regional Transit Authority in New Orleans, a role that he served in during Hurricane Katrina. Deville’s 22-year career with the RTA also included stints as its budget director and chief financial officer.
After leaving the RTA, Deville worked in FEMA’s transitional recovery office in New Orleans. He joined CATS in 2013 as the chief operating officer and project manager through MV Transportation, the private company that helped implement the CATS route expansion in 2013.
The CATS CEO Search Committee met Wednesday to interview the final candidates, which were culled from a pool of qualified applications through a round of video interviews.
Jonathan Davis, the former Deputy General Manager and Chief Financial Officer of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston was the other finalist who participated in the final round of in-person interviews.