Gina Marie Lindsey, who’s led Los Angeles World Airports for nearly eight years as executive director, said she will retire this spring “to move on to other adventures.”

Now is the best time to retire, Lindsey said, so a new executive director can take the airports development program through its next 10 years of projects. During her tenure, Lindsey oversaw an expansive and ongoing multibillion-dollar renovation program championed by former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The project has brought improvements and a new international terminal to LAWA’s marquee property, Los Angeles International Airport.

Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Board of Airport Commissioners will use executive search firm Spencer Stuart to find Lindsey’s replacement. Lindsey will stay into the spring to help that transition.

Lindsey has a 33-year career in aviation and was named executive director of the airport agency in June 2007. In her role, she oversaw Los Angeles International Airport, LA/Ontario International Airport and Van Nuys Airport. Before coming to Los Angeles, she was managing director of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and director of aviation for Anchorage International Airport. Lindsey is also a member of the Los Angeles branch board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

Los Angeles’ Mayor Eric Garcetti attributed LAX’s growth to Lindsey.

“Her stewardship of Los Angeles World Airports strengthened operations and finances at Van Nuys Airport and helped Ontario Airport steer through a turbulent market, and it’s only because of her exemplary leadership that LAX is executing the city’s largest-ever public works program,” Garcetti said.

In a 2010, Lindsey told the Business Journal she eventually planned to retire to an olive ranch near Ukiah in Mendocino County.