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BAA CEO steps down after period of “considerable challenges”BAA CEO steps down after period of “considerable challenges”
Kevin Rozario
27-Feb-2008
Stephen Nelson hands over the baton to Colin Matthews, former CEO of water company Severn Trent
UK airports operator BAA announced this morning that CEO Stephen Nelson is to step down on April 1. He will be replaced by Colin Matthews, a former CEO of water company Severn Trent and a former director of technical operations at British Airways.
Nelson took the reins as CEO in 2006 when the UK airports operator – owned by Spanish conglomerate Grupo Ferrovial – had to cope with a series of difficulties, including a terrorist alert and the subsequent introduction of new security measures, continuing baggage problems and weather-related delays and cancellations that put London Heathrow airport, in particular, in the firing line from passengers and national media.
Nelson said: “With the opening of terminal five and the completion of the CAA Price Review for the next five years BAA is at a new beginning. While BAA faced considerable challenges during my period as CEO, I am immensely proud both of the way the company responded to those challenges, and the way it refocused its efforts to put the passenger first.”
Nelson will still be in the hot seat for the opening of the new T5 on March 27. He said: “The opening is a landmark, both for BAA and for the history of aviation in this country. To have delivered this majestic building on time and on budget reflects all that is best about BAA.”
Meanwhile, Matthews underlined his determination to raise standards. He said: “I am fully aware of how significant transforming our airports is for the future of this country and I am proud to be joining BAA and its leadership at such an important time in its history.” BAA is investing £10bn ($19.87bn) across its seven airports in the next decade and is pursuing a new regulatory framework.
Nelson, who is leaving BAA, has a strong retail background, having joined the company as group retail director in 2005 following the departure of Brian Collie, now head of McArthurGlen Luxury Retail.
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(6-Sep-2005) - Brian Collie's successor Stephen Nelson joins the group as retail director today
(15-Sep-2005) - Stephen Nelson joined BAA earlier this month, succeeding Brian Collie as BAA retail director
(5-May-2005) - The UK airports group has named Stephen Nelson as retail director, succeeding Brian Collie
(13-Jul-2006) - The recently-joined retail director is to take BAA's top job as Mike Clasper bows out
(15-May-2005) - UK airports group BAA has named Stephen Nelson as its new retail director, succeeding Brian Collie who left the company earlier this year
