The board of the California High Speed Rail Authority said Tuesday it selected Jeff Morales after an extensive international search.

Morales has been an executive for Parsons Brinckerhoff, the project manager for the rail authority. He previously served as the director of the California Department of Transportation.

Morales will fill a position that has been vacant since January. He replaces Roelof van Ark.

In recent months, state lawmakers have criticized the authority for not filling top management positions while seeking money to begin building a $6 billion segment later this year.

Rail Authority Chairman Dan Richard says Morales is "exactly the right person to take the helm at this pivotal time.”