The owner of Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports has announced a new chief executive as its boss prepares to step down after 13 years.
Ken O'Toole will succeed Charlie Cornish in the role at Manchester Airports Group (MAG) on October 1.
Mr O'Toole is currently the group's deputy CEO, with responsibility for the strategic development of its three UK airports.
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He joined the group in 2012 and has held several senior executive roles at the company including chief commercial officer, chief executive of London Stansted Airport and chief executive of Manchester Airport.
MAG has also announced that Sir Adrian Montague has given the board notice of his intention to retire as chair at the end of September. He will be succeeded as chair by Mr Cornish on October 1.
Sir Adrian said: "After helping to guide MAG for nearly a decade, especially through the pandemic, and with succession to the key roles now secured, my job is essentially done and now is the right time to hand over the chair to Charlie.
"The speed with which people and businesses have returned to international travel shows the bright future for aviation and for MAG in particular.
"I want to thank everyone across the company for the hard work and passion they bring every single day, and to wish Ken and Charlie the best as they take forward this next chapter for the business."
Mr Cornish added: "The last 13 years have been an incredible time for aviation. We've seen fantastic opportunities and some unprecedented challenges.
"Through all that, it's been a great privilege for me to build and lead the UK's largest airports group, working with a fantastic team of colleagues to grow the organisation and our contribution to the UK economy.
"I am delighted that Ken will be succeeding me as CEO, and I look forward to supporting MAG's continued growth as its chair over the coming years."
Mr O'Toole said: "This is an exciting time to be taking the reins for the next stage in MAG's development. Having delivered a successful recovery over the last year, the outlook for our three airports and our digital business, CAVU, is really strong.
"Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands play vital roles in their regions, and our brilliant people, supportive investors and clear plans for growth - both in the UK and overseas - mean we are primed to make the most of these opportunities.
"I'm pleased to be leading MAG through this next phase, working with our customers, communities, airlines and stakeholders to deliver a great passenger experience and sustainable growth."
Last month, BusinessLive reported that Mr Cornish had been named as the new chairman of a Lancashire-based group.
Mr Cornish joined as group CEO in 2010. He was previously managing director of Utility Solutions, the commercial business of United Utilities (UU), and also worked for a number of manufacturing and service companies including Plessey Telecommunications, British Aerospace and ABF.
The group's airports served 54 million passengers in the 12 months to March 2023.
MAG is owned by a combination of public and private shareholders, including Manchester City Council, IFM Global Infrastructure Fund and the nine other Greater Manchester local authorities.
Lord Jim O’Neill, chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: "Throughout his career at Manchester Airport Group, and his achievements prior, Charlie Cornish has been a hugely influential figure not only in his own business and the wider sector, but across the North of England.
"His personal commitment was behind the formation of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, and his continued commitment to securing government backing for a new railway line across the Pennines has been steadfast.
"Working alongside his strong team, including Ken O’Toole who will be becoming group chief executive, he has made a regional airport a truly national one, counterbalancing the role Heathrow plays for London and the South East by delivering new world class terminals befitting a long haul hub."
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