From Amtrak:

You can read the full press release here.

So with all the accollades that Joseph Boardman got from the Amtrak Board, why is he only an interim CEO? Why not just give him the title and save the money they are going to spend on a search for his "permanent" replacement?

And BTW "permanent" sounds like somebody is going to be in charge of Amtrak for a very long time, even after they pass away. Weekend at Bernie's, anyone?

IMHO, this news also sounds suspiciously like Apple CEO Steve Jobs saying he was Apple's "interim CEO" upon taking the gig when he did.

Or maybe Boardman's confusing us by actually telling the truth. Not a common thing in DC, ya know...

Having a quickly appointed "interim" president is like a sports team appointing an interim head coach when the coach is fired. This clearly states who is in charge, and unquestionably gives them the necessary authority to run the team while the search is underway. Often, the interim becomes permanent at the end of the season. Joseph Boardman will be included in the search and may be the "permanent" choice. Many would perceive his position as the "interim" president as an advantage in the selection process, and the board will have the advantage of experiencing a working relationship with Boardman before making a "final" decision. One disadvantage is that some highly qualified candidates may remove themselves from the search if the "interim" remains in contention.

Conducting a search for this position at this level is prudent. Failure to conduct a "wide" search could be taken as a failure of the Amtrak board of directors to fulfill their fiduciary responsibility. The cost of the search is a reasonable and necessary expense to the organization.

Ross

The "interim" title may very well be because the Board feels the incoming administration should be given the chance to provide their own input on who should be the permanent CEO. The Board seat belonging to the Secretary of Transportation will obviously have a new occupant, and Board member Hunter Biden might be considered as being very close to the new Administration.

As Mr. Boardman's current job is a Presidental appointment, he might very well have been out of work on January 20th anyway.