The Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has announced the appointments of Penny Coates as chief operating officer and Andrew Harrison as managing director of Manchester Airport.
Coates currently heads up the group’s smaller airports including East Midlands, Bournemouth and Humberside.
Harrison, the current commercial director at Manchester Airport, will take over from current managing director Andrew Cornish. The dual appointment comes after the group appointed Charlie Cornish as its new group chief executive.
Coates said: “I’m excited to add Manchester, the largest of MAG’s airports, to my portfolio because it creates a huge opportunity to optimise the benefits of being a Group.
“Our airports already hold every major travel industry award but if we are to retain our leading position, we have to focus on the areas that matter to our passengers and airlines from security to sustainability.
“MAG has an exceptional and experienced team across our four airports and by working closely together we can take this business to the next stage in its development.”
Harrison joined the Manchester Airport in 2005 to focus on the retail portfolio, and the redevelopment of the airport’s three terminals. A refurbishment that cost £80 million was unveiled in July 2009.
He said: “Over the last three years, we have made a massive investment in both Manchester Airport’s facilities and our ability to deliver excellent customer service.
“I am looking forward to building on these foundations and leading our fantastic team to take full advantage of the economic recovery and deliver the benefits that the business brings to the North West region.”
Coates and Harrison will take up their new roles September 15. The post of East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director will be advertised internally across MAG with any appointment likely to also be effective from September.
Geoff Muirhead, group chief executive of MAG, said: “This move comes at a time of significant change for MAG and is a major opportunity for the business to continue to strengthen our industry leading position.
“The group’s new chief executive has been fully involved in the process and I can speak for both of us when I say that we wish Penny and Andrew the best of luck in their new roles.”