The boss of Copenhagen airport is to replace John Holland-Kaye as chief executive of Heathrow when he steps down later this year after almost a decade.
Thomas Woldbye has been head of the Danish airport since 2011 and was described by the board of the London hub as being the “standout candidate” among a pool of exceptional contenders both internally and from across the world.
Prior to his role at Copenhagen airport, Woldbye spent 27 years at Møller-Mærsk, leading its global shipping and ferry divisions, working in several different countries around the world.
Holland-Kaye will remain in post “keeping the airport focussed on delivering excellent passenger service over the summer getaway” until Woldbye officially starts later in the year, according to Heathrow.
Heathrow chairman Lord Paul Deighton said: “After an extensive and rigorous review of candidates, the Heathrow board is delighted to appoint Thomas Woldbye as the next Heathrow CEO.
“Leading Britain’s hub airport is one of the most important jobs in global aviation and the vacancy attracted the best calibre talent from across the world.
“Thomas’s achievements at Copenhagen not only mirror Heathrow’s long-term strategy, but his track record in successfully running a major airport and working closely with stakeholders to secure consensus and deliver positive results stood out in the selection process.
“The board would like to pay tribute to John. He set a strong example in his unyielding dedication to his colleagues and will leave behind a legacy of having transformed Heathrow into a premier global hub, developed the plan for Heathrow expansion that secured overwhelming Parliamentary approval, navigated the business through the extremely challenging times during the Covid 19 pandemic, overcame the unprecedented challenges of the post-pandemic recovery in demand and led the industry towards a net zero future.”
Woldbye added: “I am naturally excited and proud, as well as humbled, to have been chosen to lead what is arguably the most famous airport in the world on its future journey.
“I have personally experienced how the excellent team at Heathrow has successfully improved both the infrastructure and the service to passengers over the past years to create a strong platform for further success.
“Heathrow is an important engine for the British economy and inextricably linked to the success of London and the wider UK. I look forward to being part of charting the path for this iconic company. My ambition will be to make the airport even better for passengers, for airlines, the community and every part of the UK.”