New appointments align with LAWA’s strategic goals and vision of Mayor Bass and the Board of Airport Commissioners


Left to right: Marla Bleavins (Chief Airport Administrative Officer), Robert (Rob) Lowe (Chief People and Culture Officer) and Becca Doten (Chief of Staff)

(Los Angeles, CA) Today, Los Angeles World Airports’ (LAWA) Chief Executive Officer John Ackerman announced three new appointments to the executive leadership team - Ms. Marla Bleavins as Chief Airport Administrative Officer, Mr. Robert Lowe as Chief People and Culture Officer, and Ms. Becca Doten as Chief of Staff.

“Mayor Bass and our Board of Airport Commissioners have a vision to transform our airports into a truly world-class experience for our employees, our community and our customers, and these three appointments will help us achieve that goal,” said John Ackerman, Chief Executive Officer, LAWA. “As we invest billions of dollars to modernize our facilities and infrastructure, it is just as critical that we invest in our most important asset – the people of LAWA. Marla, Rob and Becca bring a depth and breadth of public and private sector experience that will help LAWA shine bright as both a leading employer and as a valued and trusted community partner.”

As Chief Airport Administrative Officer, Ms. Bleavins will oversee Human Resources, Commercial Development, Strategic Sourcing, Internal Audit and Ethics, and Risk Management. She will focus on how LAWA supports our people and the communities we serve, and she will lead a modernization of legacy systems and processes. Ms. Bleavins currently serves as Deputy Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer for the Port of Los Angeles. In her over 20 years of service with the City of Los Angeles, Ms. Bleavins has served as Assistant General Manager at the Department of Convention and Tourism Development, Debt and Treasury Manager at Los Angeles World Airports and Finance Specialist in the Office of the City Administrative Officer. Ms. Bleavins has an undergraduate degree from Stanford University in Public Policy and Political Science and a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She will join the LAWA team on May 6, 2024.

As Chief People and Culture Officer, Mr. Lowe will oversee Human Resources, Labor Relations and Business, Jobs and Social Responsibility, and he will build a Talent Development team. He will focus on shaping LAWA’s team culture and transforming our people systems and experience. Mr. Lowe has more than 20 years of experience, including six years of executive human resources leadership in aviation. Mr. Lowe recently served as the Vice President of People and Culture for Republic Airways, where he provided executive guidance and leadership for employee engagement, talent acquisition, talent management, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as organizational effectiveness. Prior to his tenure at Republic Airways, Rob held the position of VP of Human Resources and Corporate Talent Acquisition for JBT AeroTech. Mr. Lowe has a BS in Business Management and an MS in Human Resources Development from Indiana State University. Rob joins the LAWA team on April 8, 2024.

As Chief of Staff, Ms. Doten will serve as a strategic counsel to the CEO and oversee key projects that have Department-wide impact. She will also oversee executive and Board administration and retain leadership over the Department’s external affairs functions, including Government Relations, Marketing & Communications, and Community Relations, as well as the Strategic Initiatives Division, which is leading the coordination and preparation for FIFA 2026 and the 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games. During her six and a half years at LAWA, Ms. Doten has served in a variety of roles, including most recently as Chief Airport Affairs Officer, as well as Managing Director of Public & Government Affairs and Director of Public Relations. Prior to LAWA, Ms. Doten served as Assistant Deputy Controller for the State Controller’s Office, Director of the Mayor’s Crisis Response Team and Chief of Staff to Council District Seven. Ms. Doten holds a degree in Film Production from the University of Southern California. Her appointment is effective immediately.