MBTA's general manager out after only 15 months

BOSTON — The general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has left his position after just 15 months, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Luis Ramirez was hired in September 2017 to lead greater Boston's transit utilities, but has exited the post well before his three-year contract was set to end.

"The MBTA and Ramirez, who became General Manager in September 2017, mutually agreed that the time was right for him to separate from the MBTA and pursue other opportunities," MassDOT's release states.

Steve Poftak, chairman of the MBTA's governing board, will take over as general manager in the interim. Poftak is head of the public policy institute at Harvard University.

“The more I have been exposed to the MBTA’s workings from the inside, the greater respect I have for the ability of the MBTA workforce and managers to operate this enormously complex system every day and to develop and implement ways to improve performance," Poftak said.

He previously served as interim president for two months before Ramirez was hired.

Ramirez left the position immediately and deputy general manager Jeff Gonneville is set to assume the of the general manager until January 1.

Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack is charged with replacing Ramirez.

“For all the progress the Authority has made, we still have far to go before our customers begin to truly experience the improvements we know are underway," Fiscal Management and Control Board Chairman Joseph Aiello said.

Ramirez was hired after a months-long national search. His base salary was $320,000, reportedly about 80 percent more than that of previous general managers.

Cox Media Group