Mayor Whitmire announces new leader of Houston Airports as part of sweeping, city-wide change

Mayor John Whitmire announced Friday that Houston Airports Chief Operating Officer Jim Szczesniak will replace longtime Director Mario Diaz, marking another step in the mayor's citywide overhaul of top-level officials. Diaz has been head of Houston Airports since 2010 and has overseen the city’s three-airport system that covers George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport and Ellington Airport, a military use airport. Together, they serve tens of millions of passengers per year. The system’s director, a mayor-appointed position, oversees all aspects of the airports’ operations. Besides daily management, the director also is responsible for leading massive renovation projects and monitoring lucrative airport concession agreements. The director is also one of the highest-paid city employees in Houston. Diaz received total compensation of $292,447 in 2023, the fifth highest in the city.