Luis Ramirez, GM of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), is stepping down from his role, which he has held since September 2017.

The MBTA and Ramirez mutually agreed that the time was right for him to separate from the MBTA and pursue other opportunities, according to a statement.

Transportation Secretary/CEO Stephanie Pollack announced the appointment of MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board Vice Chair Steve Poftak to succeed Luis Ramirez as the new GM of the MBTA.

“I was brought in to the MBTA from the outside corporate world to bring a fresh business perspective and skills to the MBTA,” Ramirez said. “With the progress we have achieved around financial and operational execution, this is a good time to transition to someone with different skill sets.”

Secretary Pollack, who is charged with hiring the MBTA GM said, “Luis’s decades of executive experience were valuable for the MBTA, helping to turn around key initiatives such as procuring a new operator for The RIDE dispatch center, advocating for bus lanes, and ensuring on-time installation of Positive Train Control.”

Poftak, who served as MBTA interim GM for three months in 2017, is stepping down from his current position of executive director of the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston at the Harvard Kennedy School where he has served in that role for six and a half years. 

Poftak said he looks forward to working with MBTA Deputy GM Jeffrey Gonneville, who will manage the responsibilities of the GM’s role until Poftak officially assumes the position on Jan. 1, 2019.