The Eno Center for Transportation announced that Robert Puentes, Eno’s President/CEO will depart the organization on May 29, 2024. In June he will join the Brookings Institution as Vice President and Director, Brookings Metro.

“When Rob told the Board he was stepping down several months ago, he collaborated with us on a plan to ensure a smooth transition,” said James H. Burnley, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and current chair of Eno’s Board of Directors. “We are proceeding well with the plan, and I am impressed with the quality and caliber of applications we have received for Rob’s replacement.”

Earlier this year, Eno hired Korn Ferry to conduct the executive search for Puentes’ replacement. Diane Woodend Jones, the Vice-Chair of Eno’s Board of Directors is leading the search committee and confirmed that the search is on schedule for Puentes’ permanent replacement to be in place this summer. Alisha Robinson Williams, Eno’s current Director of People and Operations will serve in the interim role.

“Leaving Eno is certainly bittersweet,” Puentes said. “It is a stellar organization and I am confident that with its talented staff and committed Board of Directors that its best days are still to come. That’s noteworthy, given Eno’s long track record of high-quality, independent, and impactful work.”

The Eno Center for Transportation is a non-profit think tank with a mission to shape public debate on critical multimodal transportation issues and build a network of innovative transportation professionals. It was founded in 1921 by William Phelps Eno, the “Father of Traffic Regulation.” Today, Eno focuses on all modes of transportation, at all levels of government, and with the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Puentes served as its President/CEO since 2016.

Burnley said, “Rob’s leadership, most notably during the pandemic, has been extraordinary.  He leaves Eno in a very strong position, widely regard as the nation’s premier transportation think tank. Brookings is fortunate to have enticed him to return in a senior leadership role.”

For more information, contact Publicaffairs@enotrans.org (202.879.4700).