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How good is it to see Auckland Airport’s General Manager of Retail & Commercial Adrian Littlewood appointed as Chief Executive Officer of New Zealand’s main gateway?
Besides being a top fellow, Adrian has driven Auckland’s commercial revenues to new heights and helped enhance the overall consumer offer at what I consider to be one of the world’s most traveller-friendly airports.
Auckland Airport Chair Joan Withers acknowledged that point, saying: “He has done an outstanding job leading the growth and development of the retail and commercial division, our key non-aeronautical revenue lines, which now deliver approximately 40% of the airport’s income – NZ$166 million (US$137 million) revenue.”
When I entered this business 25 years ago, retail barely got a look in at board room level at most airports. BAA was among the first to change that, first with Barry Gibson (who, by curious coincedence, then joined a company called Littlewoods) and then with Brian Collie, two of the great influences on the travel retail industry.
Even a decade ago it was relatively unusual to see a Retail/Commercial Director on an airport board. And since then, how many have made it to the very top as CEO? Answers (and names) on a posctard (or by e-mail to Martin@TheMoodieReport.com) please.
Good to see the Kiwis changing all that. Because only by joining all the dots between operational and commercial activities will non-aeronautical revenues ever really be maximised.