Melbourne Airport owner Australia Pacific Airports Corporation (APAC) is to search for a new chief executive after Chris Woodruff announced his resignation, which will take effect no later than June 30 next year.
Woodruff announced he will resign from (APAC), which also owns Launceston Airport and where he has served as CEO since 2007, on Wednesday, and he will stay on in the role while his successor is appointed.
“In the coming years, APAC will plan and deliver on its customer experience vision, a large expansion of the international terminal, a new forecourt and of course continue planning for a new runway. It is an appropriate time to hand over to a new CEO to lead the company through this next exciting phase,” Woodruff said in a statement.
APAC chairman David Crawford thanked Woodruff for his performance as CEO during a time of above average traffic growth.
“During Chris’s tenure APAC has delivered growth rates well above the industry average contributing to strong economic returns for shareholders and the Victorian and national economies,” Crawford said.
“The board respects Chris’s decision to hand over to a new CEO to drive this next exciting phase of growth and appreciates his commitment to oversee the transition to new leadership.”
Industry body the Australian Airports Association also praised Woodruff’s tenure as CEO.
“The transformation of Melbourne Airport that is currently underway is testament to the impressive growth in passenger numbers that has been achieved under Chris Woodruff’s leadership,” AAA CEO Caroline Wilkie said in a statement.
“In addition to his leadership of Melbourne Airport, Chris Woodruff has made a major contribution to the development of Australia’s airport and aviation sector, and on behalf of all his colleagues across the industry, we extend our best wishes for his future endeavours.”
