Former Lansing airport CEO gets $129,000 separation payment after resigning

LANSING – The Capital Region International Airport's former CEO will get a $129,810 separation payment following his resignation in September.

Wayne Sieloff, the former president and CEO of the Capital Region Airport Authority, signed an agreement with the airport’s board that guaranteed the separation payment. The airport paid out $14,229 in wages, unused vacation and sick time, aside from the separation payment.

Sieloff’s annual salary was $155,772.

Sieloff took over as president and CEO in late 2016; his employment status changed Sept. 30. The airport board held a closed meeting to evaluate Sieloff’s performance. Board chairman John Shaski said Sieloff was no longer an “active” employee on that date.

The board has stayed quiet on what transpired and declined to comment because they describe the resignation as an ongoing personnel matter. Efforts to reach Sieloff for comment have been unsuccessful.

Shaski later confirmed Sieloff voluntarily resigned after the State Journal raised questions about whether the board violated the Michigan Open Meetings Act by voting on Sieloff’s status in a meeting that was closed to the public.

“Mr. Sieloff chose to resign his position,” Shaski said in an October email. “No vote by the board was necessary in that regard.”

Robert Benstein, the airport’s quality and compliance director, is temporarily filling Sieloff’s position. The board plans to publicly vote on Benstein’s appointment as interim president and CEO at its December meeting.

Contact reporter Craig Lyons at 517-377-1047 or calyons@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @craigalyons.