Capital Metro has hired a new executive vice president and chief financial officer whose resume includes experience with Travis County and the city of Austin.

Leslie Browder, Travis County's former executive manager of planning, budgets, human resources, information technology and facilities management, will start at Capital Metro on April 14. Her prior work includes 20 years' experience at the city, serving as CFO and managing finances for the city's airport. Browder also served as Capital Metro's CFO from 1998–2001.

"I'm delighted that someone with such an incredible background as Leslie's will be guiding our financial efforts here at Capital Metro," said Linda Watson, Capital Metro's president and CEO, in a news release. "She is a strong and capable leader, and I know she will help the agency continue on its path of financial stability and transparency."

Capital Metro has not had a permanent CFO since 2010. Billy Hamilton served as interim CFO from October 2010 to August 2013. Donna Simmons, the agency's vice president of administration and risk management compliance officer, has been serving in the interim position since Hamilton left.

"We'll be glad to have our team complete," she said.

Simmons said Browder's experience with developing bond programs at the city of Austin will be of great use to Capital Metro as it continues planning the regional transit plan Project Connect that includes new bus and rail routes.

"As we move into trying to implement our long-range plans with Project Connect, we'll need to develop innovative financing," Simmons said.

As Capital Metro continues working on its long-range financial planning, Simmons said Browder's experience will help the agency develop a plan for completing deferred state-of-good-repair capital needs.