Edinburgh Airport boss resigns after one year in charge

THE managing director of Edinburgh Airport is leaving his post after a year in the role, it was announced today.

Kevin Brown is quitting the role to take up a "once-in-a-lifetime" job offer in Australia.

He will become chief executive of Cairns-based North Queensland Airport Group, where he will be responsible for two airports, Cairns and Mackay.

Mr Brown, who took up the Edinburgh post last summer, will finish at the end of this month, airport officials said.

He joined airport operator BAA in 2002 and was managing director of both Aberdeen and Southampton airports before going to Edinburgh.

His successor in the Scottish capital is Jim O'Sullivan, currently BAA's technical standards and assurance director. He will take up the role on September 1.

Mr Brown said: "Only a once-in-a-lifetime offer could take me away from Edinburgh Airport and this is it. Working in Australia has been a lifelong dream of mine and it's made extra special by the fact that I have family in Cairns.

"I'm hugely thrilled at the opportunity but I will miss Edinburgh Airport. It has a fantastic team and it has been a privilege working with them."

BAA chief executive Colin Matthews said: "Kevin Brown leaves a healthy airport that is performing well in difficult circumstances. We wish him well in his exciting new role and thank him for the substantial contribution he has made to BAA at Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Southampton and Heathrow airports."

Mr O'Sullivan spent 14 years at British Airways, including time as chief project engineer for the Boeing 777, as general manager of Concorde, and ultimately as technical and quality director. More recently he has had operational and executive roles at National Grid, Welsh Water and EON.

He said today: "Kevin has done a fantastic job in his tenure at Edinburgh. It has bucked the general trend in UK aviation by growing and it is currently best airport in Europe for its size.

"I hope that I can continue its development and assist the team in realising the growth strategy they have created and giving Edinburgh and Scotland what it deserves: a diverse choice of routes and a world-class facility."

BAA said Edinburgh Airport is the UK's fifth largest by passenger numbers.