The Executive Committee develops and recommends to the Board, medium and long-term business development strategies. They ensure the delivery of agreed strategies by providing guidance, approvals, governance and monitoring.
John Holland-Kaye, Chief Executive Officer
John was appointed CEO with effect from 1 July 2014. He joined the company as Commercial Director in May 2009. From November 2012, John was Development Director and was responsible for delivering the £1 billion annual investment in transforming Heathrow, including the new Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal, which opened on 4 June 2014.
He was previously Divisional CEO with Taylor Wimpey PLC, having held a number of positions including Operations Director of Taylor Woodrow Developments and Commercial Director of Taylor Woodrow Inc. Prior to that, John was Managing Director, National Sales Division, of Bass Brewers, and has also worked as a strategy consultant with LEK Consulting for a number of high-profile businesses.
Ross Baker, Chief Commercial Officer
Ross was appointed Chief Commercial Officer in January 2017. Previously he was Heathrow’s Director of Operations and before that, Director of Strategy. Prior to joining Heathrow in 2011, Ross held a mix of advisory and aviation industry roles. At Bain & Company, he advised on a mix of strategic, commercial and operational engagements. Prior to Bain, Ross spent a decade with British Airways where he held a range of operational and commercial management roles, in the UK and overseas.
Javier Echave, Chief Financial Officer
Javier was appointed as Chief Financial Officer in November 2016. He joined Heathrow in January 2008 and was closely involved in establishing the current capital structure and positioning Heathrow as a strong credit in the financial markets. Over a four-year period up to 2016, as Finance Director for Operations and Performance, Javier played a key role in the delivery of a cost-efficiency programme and in ensuring a rigorous appraisal of a multi-billion capital investment plan.
Helen Elsby, Chief Solutions Officer
Helen was appointed as Chief Solutions Officer in September 2021. She joined Heathrow in 2009. Previously she was Heathrow’s Director of Procurement, before that the Expansion Integration Director and Capital Development Director. Prior to joining Heathrow in 2009, Helen spent 8 years at British Airways where she held a development management role.
Emma Gilthorpe, Chief Operating Officer
Emma became COO in March 2020. Emma has led a wide variety of teams since joining Heathrow in September 2009. Initially, as Regulatory Director, she has also led the Strategy, Sustainability and Capital Project delivery teams. Most recently Emma established and led Heathrow’s Expansion Programme which created and campaigned for a sustainable and affordable 30-year master plan. Emma previously worked in the telecommunications sector as BT plc's Group Director of Industry Policy and Regulation. Her career has been built in the regulated infrastructure sector, both listed and private and as the incumbent and competitor. Emma is an independent non-executive at Signature Aviation plc and is a qualified barrister.
Mine Hifzi, General Counsel
Mine was appointed General Counsel in July 2022. Before joining Heathrow she was General Counsel at Virgin Media for 7 years leading the legal team and subsequently the regulatory, government affairs and sustainability teams. Prior to Virgin Media, Mine was at Scripps Networks Interactive as Senior Vice President of Commercial and Legal Affairs, where she held a combined international legal and commercial role. Mine has also held a number of other senior roles including, Senior Vice President and Chief International Counsel at Discovery Communications, and senior international legal positions at Turner Broadcasting and United International Pictures. She also worked at Clifford Chance LLP.
Nigel Milton, Chief of Staff & Carbon
Nigel was appointed Chief of Staff & Carbon in September 2021. In this role, he leads Heathrow’s Carbon Strategy, Communications and Sustainability & Communities Teams. Prior to this, Nigel was Director of Communications at Heathrow, a role that included leading the campaign to win political and public support for a third runway. Nigel joined Heathrow in 2010 from Virgin Atlantic and before that he worked in a number of aviation policy roles at the Department for Transport.
Chris Annetts, Chief Strategy Officer
Chris was appointed Chief Strategy Officer in September 2021. Previously he was Heathrow’s Strategy, Regulation and Customer Director. During his 18-year career at Heathrow, Chris has held a number of senior roles across Digital Strategy, Commercial Planning, Commercial Passenger Services, Airline Business Development, Retail Operations and Expansion. Prior to Heathrow Chris held a number of roles in the retail and hospitality industries.
Paula Stannett, Chief People Officer
Paula was appointed to HR Director in January 2013. She has worked at Heathrow for 13 years, most recently as HR Director for our Airports Division and Support Services and previously as programme lead for Heathrow's Winter Resilience. Paula has a strong record of engaging staff to successfully put in place organisational change and improvement.
