Leader assumes permanent SVP post at New York City Transit

MTA New York City Transit (NYTC) has named Joseph Leader senior vice president of the department of subways, NYCT President Carmen Bianco announced.

Leader, whose NYCT career spans 27 years, had served as acting SVP of the department since May.

"Joe has impressed me with his strong focus on holding the safety of our customers and employees, as well as the security of our system, as his highest leadership concerns," Bianco said in a prepared statement. "He is a creative and visionary leader, whose inspiration and efforts have been key contributing factors to several important programs and initiatives."

Leader joined NYCT in 1986 as a management intern in the track division. Since then, he rose through the agency's ranks to chief track officer, chief of track and infrastructure and, ultimately, to vice president and chief maintenance officer for maintenance of way. In that post, he oversaw track,infrastructure, elevator and escalator, electrical, engineering and electronics maintenance.

Leader also has been involved in NYCT's extensive track maintenance and construction program, the FASTRACK initiative, and in efforts to restore subway service in the days following Hurricane Sandy, which struck the Northeast Coast in October 2012.