Lord Paul Deighton will succeed Sir Nigel Rudd as chairman of Heathrow Airport Holdings later this year.
The former Olympics chief and ex-Treasury minister is tasked with continuing the airport’s fight for a third runway.
Heathrow’s campaign was dealt a blow at the end of last year when the Government delayed a decision on airport expansion until the summer, saying it wanted to further investigate the environmental impact of expansion.
Announcing the appointment, Heathrow Airport Holdings CEO John Holland-Kaye said: "Lord Deighton’s experience is tailor made for Heathrow. He understands the importance of world class national infrastructure as well as delivering outstanding service. He has exactly the skills we need to develop Heathrow as the best connected and most sustainable airport in the world."
Sir Nigel is stepping down in September after nine years in the role.
Holland-Kaye paid tribute to him, saying his ‘great stewardship as chairman over the last nine years has transformed Heathrow into one of the world’s great airports’.
