James Lawrence, a veteran corporate finance executive and former Northwest Airlines chief financial officer, has been tapped as the new chair of the Metropolitan Airports Commission this week, putting a familiar Twin Cities finance name at the top of the body that oversees Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and six smaller regional airports around the metro.
The leadership shift was first reported Tuesday by the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, which detailed the board’s move to elevate Lawrence to the commission’s top post. The outlet noted the timing comes as the MAC continues to hash out pieces of MSP’s long-running capital program.
Who Is James Lawrence?
Lawrence brings decades of global finance experience to the chair’s seat, with senior leadership stops at Rothschild and Unilever and a lengthy stretch overseeing finance at General Mills. The commission’s biography says he later served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Northwest Airlines and now chairs Lake Harriet Capital. As outlined by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, he also sits on multiple corporate boards.
What the Leadership Change Means for MSP
MSP is in the middle of a major capital push, including a multi-phase expansion of Terminal 2, as passenger counts climb back toward pre-pandemic levels. Axios has reported on the Terminal 2 work and the broader modernization agenda that falls under the MAC’s oversight. Lawrence’s seat on the commission dates to a gubernatorial appointment in early 2021, according to the commission’s February 2021 newsletter. The MAC Newsletter noted his original appointment and local district responsibilities.
The board’s previous chair, Rick King, announced his retirement in October 2025, and vice chair Patti Gartland stepped in as interim leader while a permanent successor was lined up. In its October statement, the commission thanked King for steering the airport system through pandemic recovery and a heavy capital program. As published by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, King departs after helping guide a large multi-year modernization effort at MSP.
Local observers say Lawrence’s long run leading corporate finance teams and serving on airline and leasing boards could come in handy as the MAC negotiates contracts, manages debt and works with airline partners during MSP’s next growth phase. The Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal pointed to his board roles at AerCap and other firms as potential assets when the commission sits across the table from carriers and lenders.
