Krauthamer & Associates Assists AC Transit with CEO Search
May 28, 2025 – Krauthamer & Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Salvador Llamas as the new general manager and CEO of the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) in Oakland, CA. He succeeds interim general manager Kathleen Kelly. Gregg A. Moser led the assignment. “Each finalist for the GM-CEO position demonstrated strong strategic leadership and vision,” said board president Diane Shaw. “However, what set Mr. Llamas apart was his well-established relationship with our diverse workforce of approximately 2,300 employees, as well as, his deep familiarity with the Bay Area and its unique transit demands. As AC Transit’s COO, he has shown a comprehensive understanding of our operating and capital budgets – an asset critical to ensuring the district’s immediate and long-term stability. With the new fiscal year ushering in a period of undeniable transition, the board recognized the need for a solutions-oriented executive who can guide us through ongoing fiscal challenges with agility and foresight. We are confident that Mr. Llamas brings all these qualities, and more, to his new role as GM-CEO.”
Mr. Llamas joined AC Transit in 2012 as director of maintenance, before rising to chief operating officer in 2017. Over the past 13 years, he has delivered measurable results, including a nearly 10 percent improvement in on-time performance and a 43 percent reduction in accident rates. Mr. Llamas has also led major strategic initiatives, including the development of the Transit Asset Management Plan (TAM); the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP); and the nationally recognized 5X5 Study, now considered a definitive roadmap for transit agencies transitioning to zero-emission fleets.
Mr. Llamas is actively involved with the Eno Center for Transportation, the National Transit Institute, and Latinos in Transit. He is a member of the APTA board of directors; is chair of APTA’s Bus Operations Committee; and serves on the Bus Technical Maintenance and Zero Emission Fleet committees.
“I am deeply honored by the board’s confidence in me as the new GM and CEO,” said Mr. Llamas. “While AC Transit faces challenges ahead, I will rely on the core principles of ‘improvise, adapt, and overcome’ as we begin this next chapter in transit,” said Salvador Llamas. “My time with the district has only strengthened my resolve that our bus lines are essential lifelines, driving the success of the East Bay. That success takes a team, and AC Transit is home to some of the most ingenious professionals in the industry. Although the pandemic has shifted rider demands, it will not shift our time-honored commitment to equitable, reliable, accessible, and, most importantly, affordable transit.”
AC Transit has captured numerous awards in recent years, and in 2023 was honored as the Outstanding Public Transportation System of the Year by the American Public Transportation Association. AC Transit has also established the Zero Emission Bus University – a renowned workforce development program, recognized by the state of California and the federal government for excellence in technical training, career development, and apprenticeships. Committed to providing safe, reliable, efficient and affordable transportation services to the inner East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, AC Transit provides top customer service, a commitment to environmental sustainability, and safe and responsible service to its riders.
Krauthamer & Associates specializes in identifying, attracting, and recruiting talent for C-suite, board, and senior roles across industries, such as real estate, transportation, aerospace, healthcare, private equity, the public sector, technology, and more.
Gary Krauthamer, who founded the firm in 1971, has completed more than 1,000 search assignments throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Over the last 30 years, Mr. Krauthamer has worked extensively within and across the public and private sectors. His clients can be found in the aerospace industry, federal government, entrepreneurial organizations, middle-market entities, and large multinational Fortune 100 corporations.
Related: Krauthamer & Associates Recruits CEO for Santa Cruz Metro
Mr. Moser joined Krauthamer & Associates in 2005. Prior to joining K&A, he practiced law in the areas of general business, tax and estate planning where he advised clients on financial succession planning as well as complex international partnerships and real estate transactions. Mr. Moser recruits professionals for a large range of industries in both the public and private sector, including transit, aerospace, financial services, technology, banking, defense, healthcare, and education.
Recent Alliance
Krauthamer & Associates recently formed a strategic alliance with AO People Partners to deliver comprehensive executive leadership solutions to organizations worldwide. This collaboration combines AO People Partners’ expertise in executive coaching, leadership advisory, and talent strategy with Krauthamer & Associates’ experience in executive search and board services.
“We are excited to join forces with Krauthamer & Associates to offer our clients a more integrated and impactful approach to executive leadership,” said Ed Offterdinger, co-founder and chairman of AO People Partners. “This partnership will enable us to deliver even greater value by combining our expertise in leadership development with Krauthamer & Associates’ unparalleled talent acquisition capabilities.”
“I have known Ed for many years as a client and advisor and look forward to partnering with AO People Partners to expand our service offerings and provide our clients with a more comprehensive solution to their executive leadership needs,” said Todd Dorfman, partner with Krauthamer & Associates. “This relationship will help us both build stronger, more sustainable, and effective leadership teams that drive measurable success. The strategic partnership between AO People Partners and Krauthamer & Associates marks a significant milestone in the executive leadership solutions industry. The two firms are poised to deliver unparalleled value to organizations seeking to build and sustain high-performing executive teams by combining their unique strengths and expertise.”
Related: Krauthamer & Associates Assists the Corporate Angel Network with CEO Search
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
