'Secrecy And Concealment': Nashville Airport Authority CEO Fired While On Sick Leave

NASHVILLE, TN — The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority fired CEO Rob Wigington Wednesday, alleging a "culture of secrecy and concealment" during his six-year tenure, which has coincided with Nashville International's longest period of growth. Wigington's attorney, though, says his client's dismissal violates numerous federal labor laws, as Wigington has been on sick leave since a liver transplant in July.

Among the allegations laid against Wigington is that he provided $2.6 million in incentives to British Airways as part of the package securing a non-stop London-to-Nashville route without telling the board, that he provided excessive severance packages to three fired C-level executives and that he had no plans in place for a successor.

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A report from the board's management committee claims Wigington failed to brief commissioners on the theft of $135,000 worth of cell phones and only told them of a $1.22 million embezzlement only months after federal prosecutors began investigating.

“The Board of Commissioners has a fiduciary duty to do what is best for the organization and the city we serve. In this case, by unanimous agreement, the board acted to make a needed change in the top management of the Airport Authority. This is a critical time for Nashville International Airport as we confront rapid growth and the launch of a major expansion program, and it is critically important we have the right leadership in place as we go forward. I commend my fellow board members for acting in the best interests of the Airport Authority today,” board chairman Bobby Joslin said in a statement.

Chief Operating Officer Doug Kreulen, acting CEO during Wigington's sick leave, will serve as interim president and CEO.

In a statement sent to the press following the board's decision, Wigington's attorney, former federal judge Kevin Sharp, said the board is “violating the Family Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Wigington’s contract.”

“MNAA’s decision to fire Wigington is in response to his liver transplant surgery and in retaliation for his period of FMLA leave,” he said.

Image via MNAA