John Holland-Kaye shows HM Queen Elizabeth around the terminal named after her. May 2014. Heathrow image.John Holland-Kaye will make a return visit to the Aviation Club on Thursday 8 June.
The event marks his decision to stand down as CEO of Heathrow Airport Ltd in June after nine years in charge of Europe’s largest international airport.
Holland-Kaye has been Chief Executive of Heathrow (LHR) since July 2014 having previously led the team for the development and construction of Terminal 2.
He joined the then five-airport company (Aberdeen, Heathrow, Southampton & Stansted) as Commercial Director in May 2009, and was responsible for a 30% growth in retail income and improved passenger experience. Holland-Kaye was previously Divisional CEO with Taylor Wimpey Plc, Operations Director at Taylor Woodrow Plc and Divisional Managing Director at Bass Brewers Ltd.
His focus during the early years of his tenure as CEO was the push for the third runway plus a growth of passenger numbers which reached a record 81m in 2019.
Nobody could have forecast what happened in March 2020 with Covid and its effect on international air transport.
With a limp approach by the Department for Transport (one could use the same for government), and the begrudging support of the British airlines, Holland-Kaye became the unofficial spokesman for the industry. In what was a gruelling time, the personable Holland-Kaye handled it well and was at ease with the media.