Paul Kehoe named as new Birmingham Airport chief
4.7.2008 (Birmingham Post)
By Paul Dale, Public Affairs Airport
Birmingham International Airport has dropped a major surprise with the announcement
that its new chief executive will be Paul Kehoe, who is currently in charge at
the far smaller Bristol Airport.
BIA acting managing director Joe Kelly had been hot favourite to get the job,
which was advertised nationally at a salary of £200,000 this year.
Mr Kelly took over control of the airport temporarily last year, following the
death in a car accident of former managing director Richard Heard.
No date has been set for Mr Kehoe to take up his new appointment, and airport
officials were making no comment about the future of Mr Kelly.
Mr Kehoe was previously managing director at London Luton and Belfast International
Airports during his eight years with the airport group, TBI.
During a 20-year career in the aviation industry, Mr Kehoe has also been an RAF
air traffic controller, manager of BAe Systems airports portfolio and a senior
executive with the Serco Group.
He has an MBA from the University of Warwick.
BIA chairman John Hudson said: “We are delighted to have attracted Paul to Birmingham
Airport following a very competitive selection process. He brings with him a
wealth of airport operating experience and the board looks forward to Paul’s leadership
during the challenging times ahead”.
Mr Kehoe said: “This is a tremendously exciting time to lead the team at Birmingham
Airport.
“The developments that are either planned or under way are ambitious and will
enable the airport to continue to make a significant contribution to the success
of the region”.
The new chief executive’s first task will be to oversee the £120 million extension
of the main BIA runway, which will allow non-stop flights to take place from Birmingham
to India, China and the west coast of America for the first time. The airport
plans major expansion over the next few years including construction of a new
international flights terminal.