Colin Matthews to stand down as Heathrow CEO

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Colin joined Heathrow in March 2008. Under his leadership the proportion of passengers rating their journey through Heathrow as good or excellent has increased from less than 50% to more than 75%. Terminal 5 has been voted by passengers as the world’s best airport terminal for the past three years. Heathrow has constructed a brand new Terminal 2, which is set to open to passengers in June. The airport successfully welcomed the world to Britain as the official gateway for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In December, Heathrow’s option for a third runway was shortlisted by Sir Howard Davies’ Airports Commission.

Colin Matthews said: “It has been a privilege to serve as CEO of Heathrow for the last six years. With a strong leadership team, the company continues to raise standards of passenger service, improve efficiency and reduce costs. The opening of Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal in June this year is a further important step in the transformation of Heathrow and long term prospects are bright following the decision of the Airports Commission to shortlist our proposal for a new runway. So once Terminal 2 has opened later this year, I have decided the time is right to pass on the baton.”

Sir Nigel Rudd, Chairman of Heathrow, said: “Heathrow has commenced a search for a successor for Colin Matthews with the aim of having a new Chief Executive in place later this year and after Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal has opened. Colin has done a fantastic job of improving Heathrow for passengers and will remain as Chief Executive until his successor is in place to ensure a smooth transition.”