Aberdeen International Airport (AIA) managing director Carol Benzie has a new boss after the owners appointed Glasgow Airport rival Amanda McMillan as chief executive of the new company set up to run the businesses.
Ms McMillan keeps her role as MD at Glasgow alongside her new duties following the recent acquisition of the airports in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton by Spain’s Ferrovial and Australia’s Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) from Heathrow Airport Holdings (HAH).
Ferrovial and Mira have set up AGS Airports to own and run all three sites, which officially changed hands yesterday after a £1.048billion deal.
The companies said Ms McMillan would work closely with AGS chairman Sir Peter Mason, the former chairman and chief executive at construction giant Balfour Beatty and ex CEO at engineering and project management firm Amec, as well as being the current chairman of Thames Water, to oversee operations.
But they insisted each airport would continue to be managed locally.
ASG’s chief executive will provide “centralised co-ordination” the new owners said, adding she would also be “further strengthening the external relationship of the group and assisting shareholders in governance and planning”.
Sir Peter said: “I look forward to working with Amanda, as well as the MDs of Aberdeen and Southampton as we look to continue the growth of the three airports, which are both vital to their communities and key destinations for national and international travellers.
“Amanda has been part of the group for eight years and is well-respected both internally and externally.
“She will play a key role as we look to grow passenger numbers and routes at the airports.”
Ms McMillan joined HAH from drink giant Diageo in October 2005, initially in its business support centre.
She said: “This is a great opportunity at a very exciting time in the development of our airports.
“In addition to continuing as managing director of Glasgow Airport, my role will be to support the new owners and local management, while allowing the airports to operate individually.”