Memphis Airport Authority Board Elects Pace Cooper as Chairman

Pace Cooper, president and chief executive officer of Cooper Hotels, has been selected as the chairman of the board of commissioners for the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA). Cooper, the fifth executive to hold the chairman's title in the airport authority's history, was unanimously elected for a full new term by board members at their Dec. 15, meeting. Cooper had served as chairman since May 2015, when he was selected by the board to fill the term of previous Chairman Jack Sammons. 

Cooper, who will serve a five-year term, was recommended by the MSCAA board’s nominating committee. He joined the MSCAA board in 2013.

"I believe our airport authority is making great strides toward revitalizing our great passenger airport, and I deeply appreciate the other distinguished board commissioners' confidence in my leadership,” said Cooper. “It is an honor and a privilege for me to serve the community, and I am confident that our airport will continue as the single most important economic engine in Memphis and our region.” 

Commissioners also selected Pamela Z. Clary, executive vice president and partner for Community Capital LLC, as vice chairwoman, and Michael Keeney, managing shareholder at the Memphis office of Lewis Thomason Law Firm, as its secretary/treasurer. Clary has served on the MSCAA board since January 2014, while Keeney joined the board in July 2015. Both Clary and Keeney will serve one-year terms.