Heathrow Airport chairman to step down next year

Heathrow Airport chairman Sir Nigel Rudd will be stepping down from his role in September 2016 after nine years and three terms at the helm – in line with the gateway’s standard board practice.

The airport says during his tenure, Heathrow has gone through significant change with Sir Nigel guiding and advising the Heathrow Board – including on the sale of airports and a regrouping of the company to focus solely on Heathrow.

The gateway says under Sir Nigel’s leadership, Heathrow has become a “focussed, high-quality business with a stable financial position and strong operational performance”.

His time on the board was capped by last year’s successful opening of Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal, marking the conclusion of an £11 billion ($16.4 billion) investment programme which transformed Heathrow.

Heathrow says preparations are underway for the appointment of a new chairperson who will take forward the airport’s expansion plans. To ensure a smooth transition, Sir Nigel will remain in post until this work is completed in the second half of 2016.