Heathrow Terminal 5 Boss Leaves
14th May 2008
BAA has announced that Mark Bullock, the Heathrow Airport boss who oversaw the opening of the disastrous Terminal 5, is to leave his job. Spanish-owned BAA operates Heathrow Airport, as well as Gatwick and a number of other airports throughout the country.
It is said that Mr Bullock, who has worked for BAA for four years, had “chosen to leave” the company after he disagreed with recent management changes at BAA. Indeed, Mr Bullock has admitted that his role would “change substantially” under the revised management. He said: “Leading the team at Heathrow is an intense and demanding role but one I have enjoyed very much. The managing director role at the airport will change substantially under the new structure being introduced by Colin Matthews and, while I understand and support those important changes and the renewed focus on day-to-day operations, the time is clearly right for me to move on and take on new challenges.”
The news of Bullock’s departure comes just a week after MPs said the Terminal 5 opening had “made a fool out of the country” and asked for an explanation. At a hearing in front of the Transport Select Committee last week, it was said that Mr Matthews “was unaware” that Terminal 5 was not ready when it opened. Indeed, it has been suggested that baggage systems had not been tested sufficiently and that the lifts were out of order prior to the Terminal’s opening.
The opening of the £4.3 billion Terminal 5 made headlines earlier this year when countless flights were cancelled and tens of thousands of bags were lost. Sir Nigel Rudd, who is BAA’s executive chairman, has said that he was “bitterly disappointed” about the opening of the doomed terminal. He said: “It was clearly a huge embarrassment to the company, me personally and the board.”
BAA's chief executive Colin Matthews said that Mr Bullock had made a “significant contribution” to BAA and Heathrow. He said: “Mark Bullock has made a significant contribution to BAA and to Heathrow in particular and has led the airport through a particularly challenging period. I am grateful for his efforts.”
Mike Brown, who is currently chief operating officer at London Underground, will replace Mr Bullock. Mr Matthews said of Mr Brown’s appointment: “I now look forward to working with Mike Brown as we continue driving passenger service standards across the airport and focus on the important work to transform the facilities we provide for passengers and airlines.”
Mr Bullock's departure is the latest in a string of executive departures at BAA following the opening of Terminal 5. British Airways, which has sole occupancy of Terminal 5, recently announced that operations director Gareth Kirkwood and customer service director David Noyes were leaving them following the problems at Terminal 5.
Source:
BBC
The Times