Hillsborough transit agency CEO replaces chief financial officer

TAMPA — The new CEO of Hillsborough County’s bus agency announced she is replacing a top member of the executive team.

Adelee Le Grand sent a memo to all agency staff on Thursday morning announcing that Lynda Crescentini will serve as the interim chief financial officer, effective immediately. Crescentini, who was the director of enterprise project management, replaces former interim CFO Cyndy Stiglich.

The memo did not say whether Stiglich would still be employed at the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority.

Le Grand’s first day as the leader of the authority was Jan. 1. She has not spoken on the record with the Tampa Bay Times since she was offered the position, and declined to answer questions Thursday. The agency’s staff would also not confirm whether Stiglich was still employed.

Three board members and the board’s attorneys told the Times they had not been informed of the change.

Stiglich was hired at HART in December 2015. She was later appointed interim CFO in June 2019 and had an annual salary of $155,000.

The transit authority’s leadership has been in flux for years. The agency hasn’t had a long-term, permanent CEO since Katharine Eagan left in January 2018.

Former CFO Jeff Seward was appointed interim CEO following Eagan’s departure and served until Ben Limmer was hired to fill the top job in March 2019. Limmer was placed on paid leave in November 2019 pending an investigation into his spending, then resigned in March 2020.

Carolyn House Stewart served as interim chief executive for 11 months before sending her resignation to the board’s chair and attorney in September. The governing board selected Le Grand in November to become the agency’s next leader after a five-month national search.

Times staff writer John Martin contributed to this report.