THE Government is seeking a high-calibre applicant to take on the role of Chief Executive Officer of the newly established Shannon airport authority.
The job comes about as a result of the separation of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority on New Years Day. The postion, advertised at the weekend, will be on a contractual basic and the remuneration will be “within the guidelines set for Irish public enterprise”.
Over the coming months, the Government is set to enact legislation to provide for the transfer of the property assets of Shannon Development to the new authority which will have a commercial mandate while remaining in public ownership.
According to the Government brief, the new organisation will “develop both the airport and its property assets, sustainably grow annual passenger numbers and create an International Aviation Services Centre (IASC)”.
The recruitment advertisement points out that the Shannon region enjoys a distinguished heritage of innovation and industrial development. In the aviation sector 1600 people are already employed in some 40 aerospace firms in the area. The new organisation will build on these foundations to establish a globally recognised and internationally competitive aviation industry cluster.
The job description will make the new chief executive responsible for both the commercial operation of Shannon Airport and the strategy and development of the IASC and the broader property portfolio.
The chief executive will be accountable for sustainable passenger and revenue growth at the airport; turning the IASC vision of a global aviation cluster into reality; maximising the broader property portfolio; leading and managing the corporate team and working constructively with stakeholders including Government, development agencies, investors, existing and potential IASC companies and airlines.
The successful candidate will also be responsible for overseeing the worldwide promotion and marketing of the airport and its broader property portfolio. They will also identify key industry sectors and opportunities while ensuring that IASC’s development is sustainably and prudently financed.
The advertisement went on to state that the position “requires an experienced and inspirational leader of exceptional calibre with aviation experience who can effectively manage a diverse range of stakeholders”.
Applicants are also required to have a solid record of achievement at or near chief executive level and hands-on experience of business development or incubation and the ability to demonstrate success in a competitive international industrial sector.
