CLEVELAND — The city of Cleveland announced Monday morning that Bryant L. Francis has been selected to serve as the new Director of Port Control after a nationwide search.
“I am delighted that we are bringing Bryant to Cleveland at this pivotal time for our airport system,” said Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. “He is a leader that we know can hit the ground running and jump start our $2 billion, 20-year master plan to transform Cleveland Hopkins into a world-class airport for our city and the region.”
Francis will begin the job on May 24, assuming the role from Interim Director Dennis Kramer who has held the position since Robert Kennedy’s departure last July.
Cleveland city officials describe Francis as “an airport industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience in aviation management.”
“He currently serves as Director of Aviation for the Port of Oakland, where he leads a staff of more than 200 people responsible for the management of Oakland International Airport (OAK),” city officials noted in a press release. “OAK welcomed 10 million passengers last year and has seen tremendous success during his seven-year tenure.”
“I was struck by Bryant’s dedication to public service and accountability as well as his natural ability to quickly connect and relate to the people he met with when he spent the day with us in Cleveland,” said Cleveland Chief Operating Officer Bonnie Teeuwen. “He knows this business inside out and is also someone who highly values culture and collaboration -- a perfect fit for this role.”
Francis says he’s thrilled to lead the team in Cleveland.
“This is the jumping off point of a real transformation at Cleveland Hopkins and I am excited to lend my experience to shaping and stewarding such a landmark project,” he said in a press release.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
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Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published in an unrelated story on March 28, 2023.
