Heathrow airport boss Colin Matthews resigns after six years

Heathrow airport is looking for a new chief executive as Colin Matthews is to stand down after six years in the job.

Matthews, 57, joined in March 2008 at the time of the shambolic opening of Terminal 5; he will stay until the new Terminal 2 is safely opened, in June.

Matthews said: "It has been a privilege to serve as CEO of Heathrow for the last six years. With a strong leadership team, the company continues to raise standards of passenger service, improve efficiency and reduce costs.

"The opening of Terminal 2: the Queen's Terminal in June this year is a further important step in the transformation of Heathrow, and long-term prospects are bright following the decision of the Airports Commission to shortlist our proposal for a new runway.

So once Terminal 2 has opened, later this year, I have decided the time is right to pass on the baton."

Sir Nigel Rudd, chairman of Heathrow, said: "Colin has done a fantastic job of improving Heathrow for passengers and will remain as chief executive until his successor is in place to ensure a smooth transition."

A successor is expected to be in place later this year. Prominent internal candidates include the development director, John Holland-Kaye, who is charged with Terminal 2, but previous appointments have come from outside.

A former Severn Trent boss and British Airways engineering director, Matthews is credited with overseeing a gradual restoration of Heathrow's reputation, with passenger satisfaction scores having increased markedly.

Matthews has seen one attempt to build the third runway overturned but has overseen a quiet lobbying effort for the government's Airports Commission to consider expansion plans again, which it is now doing.

Matthews started the job as the chief executive of BAA, the company then also running Gatwick and Stansted. Competition authorities ordered the sale of those two airports during his time in charge.