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Kenney names leaders for airport and parks

Mayor-elect Jim Kenney on Thursday named Rochelle L. Cameron as chief executive officer of Philadelphia International Airport and Kathryn Ott Lovell as commissioner of parks and recreation.

Rochelle L. Cameron has headed airport operations.
Rochelle L. Cameron has headed airport operations.Read more

Mayor-elect Jim Kenney on Thursday named Rochelle L. Cameron as chief executive officer of Philadelphia International Airport and Kathryn Ott Lovell as commissioner of parks and recreation.

Cameron, who presently oversees day-to-day operations at the airport, will succeed Mark E. Gale, who announced on Monday that he would retire in January.

"There are few in the aviation industry with more experience and expertise than Chellie Cameron," Kenney said in a statement. "I know that as CEO, she will not just provide excellent customer service, but also create a fair, supportive work environment for our employees."

Cameron, 47, came to Philadelphia in 2011 after nearly 13 years with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Dulles International Airport.

In Philadelphia, Cameron served for three years as deputy director of aviation, finance, and administration.

In December 2014, she was appointed to the newly created position of chief operating officer, responsible for airport operations, including facilities, maintenance, information technology, asset management and planning, engineering, security, finance and budget, property and concessions, human resources, contracts and procurement, and the disadvantaged business enterprises program.

Ott Lovell previously was the executive director of the Fairmount Park Conservancy, where she helped lead efforts to preserve and improve the Fairmount Park system.

Prior to joining the conservancy, she was the chief advancement officer at the Mural Arts Program. She currently sits on the board of the Friends of St. Hubert and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance and Business Association of West Parkside, and is chair of the board of St. Francis de Sales School.

"Her work at the Fairmount Park Conservancy and the city's Mural Arts Program is the ideal mix of experience to lead this department," Kenney said in a statement. "We have no doubt that, under her leadership, Parks and Rec will continue to provide safe, quality extracurricular activities for our kids and preserve some of the city's most important natural resources."

tnadolny@phillynews.com

215-854-2730 @TriciaNadolny