MTA announces new NYC transit president

The MTA on Tuesday announced the appointment of Veronique “Ronnie” Hakim as the eighth permanent president of MTA New York City Transit.

Hakim is a career transportation professional who returns to the MTA after an earlier 23-year career at the agency — for the past year and a half she has served as the executive director of NJ Transit, according to the MTA.

“I am glad to welcome Ronnie back to New York City Transit and to entrust her with the responsibility of ensuring safe and reliable service even as ridership grows every month,” MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast said in the statement.

In her time at the MTA, Hakim served as executive vice president and general counsel at MTA Capital Construction, where she provided senior management with policy and legal advice on megaprojects such as the Second Avenue Subway, East Side Access and the 7 train extension to Hudson Yards.

“Having spent more than two decades of my life at the MTA, I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to lead New York City Transit at a time when surging ridership is affecting every element of its operations,” Hakim said in a statement.

Hakim will begin serving as president on Dec. 28 as she replaces James L. Ferrara, the president of MTA Bridges and Tunnels, who has been serving as interim president of New York City Transit since the August retirement of Carmen Bianco.