MTA names Foye, Hakim to top leadership posts

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman Joseph Lhota today announced the appointment of Patrick Foye as the agency's president and Veronique Hakim as managing director.

Foye and Hakim will serve in the newly created office of the chairman, which also will include MTA Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber.

As president, Foye will lead key innovation and modernization initiatives, MTA officials said in a press release. He comes to the agency after serving as executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ). Earlier this week, Rick Cotton was named PANYNJ's new executive director.

For her part, Hakim will be responsible for the authority's operations. Hakim earlier this year was named MTA's interim executive director following Thomas Prendergast's retirement as chairman and chief executive officer. Hakim previously served as president of MTA New York City Transit and executive director of New Jersey Transit.

Both Foye and Hakim will help implement Lhota's recently announced plan to turn around New York City's subway system, which has been dogged by delays and operational problems in recent months.

"Pat and Ronnie are veteran transportation professionals who together with Janno form the dynamic team the MTA needs at this moment," Lhota said. "The plan I recently introduced is ambitious, aggressive and requires dedicated leadership ensuring operational excellence and long-term innovation — which is exactly what the team in the Office of the Chairman will provide."