DFW HQ

About DFW

# Guiding the Future of DFW Airport

Meet the executive leadership team guiding DFW Airport into the future. With a focus on innovation, operational excellence, and world-class customer experience, this diverse group of leaders brings deep expertise and strategic vision to one of the world’s busiest and most connected airports.


Chris McLaughlin serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). He oversees the management, operations, planning, and development of the third-busiest commercial airport in the world. 

Located between the owner cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW offers nonstop service to over 250 destinations across five continents and is consistently recognized for exceptional customer service. The airport supports over 600,000 direct and indirect jobs, amounting to a payroll of $38 billion, and generating $24 billion in visitor spending and $5 billion in state and local tax revenue annually. 

Mr. McLaughlin joined DFW in 2021 as an executive overseeing Operations and was appointed as CEO in 2025. His decades of experience in aviation and related industries include positions at airlines, airports and the federal government. Mr. McLaughlin has a record of setting a strategic vision, solving complex transportation and infrastructure challenges, integrating innovative technological solutions and partnering with key local, state and federal stakeholders. 

Mr. McLaughlin graduated with honors from Connecticut College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and Spanish. He currently serves on the boards of the United Way of Tarrant County and Marlee’s Smile.  

> [Download Bio](https://assets.ctfassets.net/m2p70vmwc019/3hNIXFBiQ7mJlU98V82G9L/f25be70e9a76723e740507713a1668d4/Chris_McLaughlin_Bio.pdf)

Chief Executive Officer

Chris McLaughlin

Ken Buchanan is a seasoned business professional with over 35 years of industry experience in revenue management, operations management, sales, merchandising technology, marketing, and customer experience. At DFW International airport, Mr. Buchanan is responsible for the Customer Experience, Terminal Management, Concessions, Market Research, and Parking Operation departments. Mr. Buchanan directs these teams to explore innovations that allow DFW Airport to adjust to fluid market dynamics to provide an exceptional customer experience.

In FY21, this included supporting over 229 concession businesses that served over 62 million passengers, resulting in over $66 million in revenues.

Before his time with DFW Airport, he has held executive-level positions at Pepsi Co., Kroger Corp., Kmart Corp., and Information Resources Inc. He also served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Coors, Inc.

Mr. Buchanan graduated with a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Memphis and earned his masters in business administration, focusing on marketing, from Jackson State University.

> [Download Bio](//assets.ctfassets.net/m2p70vmwc019/1n4EoS4DbTuL4CQT6xunrM/6ca2d0f92e752eb913957a0de0c17c2e/Ken_Buchanan_Bio_Apr_2022.pdf)

EVP Revenue Management & Customer Experience

Ken Buchanan

Maruchy Cantu serves as Executive Vice President of Administration. Ms. Cantu joined the DFW executive team effective December 13, 2021. Her areas of responsibility include Human Resources, Business Diversity & Development, Communications & Marketing, Owner City Relations, and Risk Management.

Ms. Cantu provides vision, strategy, direction, and execution of DFW Airport's general administrative policies and programs. Specifically, this includes providing strategic direction of all human resources programs, including DE&I, leading the design and administration of the Airport’s business diversity policy and programs to support and promote the involvement of small, minority, and women-owned business enterprises (D/S/M/WBEs). In addition, she will manage the airport board process, relationship with the owner cities, community engagement, internal and external communications, and marketing. Lastly, Maruchy will provide strategic oversight of the Board’s enterprise risk management process, policies, and execution.

Ms. Cantu is a collaborative executive with more than 27 years of experience in multiple industries, including retail, aerospace, transportation, manufacturing and distribution, and consumer goods.

Before joining DFW Airport, she was Chief Human Resources Officer at Reece/Morsco, a multi-billion-dollar U.S. Plumbing, HVAC, and Waterworks Distributor in Dallas. In addition, she held various other Human Resource executive and leadership roles for Frito-Lay, Grainger, Northrop Grumman, and UPS.

She serves as a member of the board of directors for Communities in Schools of North Texas. She is on the advisory board for The People Center at the University of North Texas – College of Business.

Ms. Cantu earned a Master of Business Administration from Dallas Baptist University and a Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Human Resources Management from the University of North Texas, both degrees were received with honors distinction.

> [Download Bio](//assets.ctfassets.net/m2p70vmwc019/5Q87T2Epil8dChIqBrvsha/c7b3b9f0eeafbb6a2d1d0d33ef652d09/Maruchy_Cantu_Bio_May_22.pdf)

EVP Administration

Maruchy Cantu

Mohamed Charkas serves as Executive Vice President of Infrastructure & Development for Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. He oversees the Airport Development, Design, Code & Construction, Commercial Development, Energy, Transportation & Asset Management, Controls & Analytics, and Planning departments. His responsibilities include directing all aspects of development at DFW, including master planning, engineering, a multi-billion dollars capital improvement program, airport development construction work, and commercial real estate development. More specifically, Mr. Charkas provides key leadership support to help guide the overall strategic planning of the Airport; the development, acquisition, leasing, and commercial property management of the Airport's property and facilities; and the design and construction of facilities in fulfillment of the Airport Master Plan.

As an experienced program delivery professional and engineer with three decades of cross-industry expertise in infrastructure operations and construction management, Mr. Charkas was instrumental in the successful negotiations and execution of a new 20-year Use & Lease Agreement between DFW Airport and American Airlines. The agreement includes $7 billion in pre-approved capital investments, including Terminal F's construction, Terminal C's renovation, and other significant modernization projects that will ensure DFW Airport is ready for the future. His professional career includes roles with DFW Airport, including Sr. Vice President of Airport Development, Vice President of Planning, and Program Director for Design, Code, and Construction. In this capacity, Mr. Charkas led the execution of DFW Airport's first Design-Build project, DPS Headquarters, as well as other significant improvements, including the Integrated Operations Center, Terminal D South Expansion, and the completion of a first-of-its-kind-modularly constructed terminal concourse, the High C Gates Demolition and Reconstruction project.

Before joining DFW Airport, Mr. Charkas led in delivering programs with Zayed International Airport Terminal and Hamad International Airport.

Mr. Charkas holds an engineering degree, is a certified Project Management Professional, and is a LEED Green Associate. 

> [Download Bio](//assets.ctfassets.net/m2p70vmwc019/26qJlbILw111pXWsvZj1tu/5773229036bc206f4b12a1207249c439/MohamedCharkas-55-.pdf)

EVP Infrastructure & Development

Mohamed Charkas

Chris Poinsatte was appointed Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer for the Airport in September 2003. Mr. Poinsatte is responsible for finance, treasury, strategic planning, performance measurement, procurement, information technology, and the airline business relationship.

Mr. Poinsatte has held executive leadership positions in a wide range of international, private, and government organizations. Prior to joining the Airport, he was the Chief Financial Officer of NextJet Technologies, Inc., a start-up transportation management and logisticssoftwarecompany. Before that position,heservedastheChiefFinancialOfficer for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) where he developed DART’s $2.9 billion financing program for its light rail expansion.

He graduated from the University of Notre Dame, is a Certified Public Accountant, and a frequent keynote speaker at various community and industry conferences.

> [Download Bio](//assets.ctfassets.net/m2p70vmwc019/4kpaNpR33pzIwcvYsFSi7d/9cac002363a9f01239df1f07b3c34eb0/Chris_Poinsatte_Bio_Apr_22.pdf)

Chief Financial Officer

Christopher A. Poinsatte

Paul Puopolo serves as Executive Vice President of Innovation at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. He leads DFW’s Innovation function to identify, assess, and drive the collaborative development of new solutions and business models to create new growth and competitive advantage. Mr. Puopolo joined the DFW Airport team in August 2018.

Mr. Puopolo is an experienced “intrapreneur” with multi-industry innovation, emerging technology, and direct to consumer background. Throughout his career he has built and led corporate innovation teams within large, complex organizations.

Prior to joining DFW Airport, he served as Vice President of Innovation at MetLife Inc., Vice President of Business Innovation & Development at Highmark, Inc., and Director of Consumer Innovation at Humana Inc. In these roles, he was accountable for developing business innovation strategies and portfolios and their strategic implementation to increase profitable growth, improve the consumer experience, and champion an innovative culture.

Mr. Puopolo served as an active duty officer and as a pilot in the United States Navy, and retired from the Navy after 22 years of service. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Comprehensive Science from Villanova University and a Masters degree in National Security Affairs from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. 

> [Download Bio](https://assets.ctfassets.net/m2p70vmwc019/6Crn53Q2dif536uvL1VAQz/0b57735fdd42ea0f15fbd5f41a424828/Paul_Puopolo_DFW_Airport_Bio.pdf)

EVP Innovation

Paul Puopolo

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DFW International Airport Executive Staff

View the leadership team on DFW Airport's Organizational Chart and learn more about DFW's overview, brand, fast facts and history here.