New leadership for London Gatwick

London Gatwick will have a new chief executive for the next phase of its journey after announcing that VINCI Airport’s Pierre-Hugues Schmit will succeed Stewart Wingate in September.

Wingate, who has held the top job at LGW for 15 years, will take up the new role of managing director of UK Airports for VINCI Airports and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) in the autumn.

In his new role, Wingate will oversee the future development and strategic direction of London Gatwick, Edinburgh Airport and Belfast International, with the chief executives of all three airports reporting directly to him.

Pierre-Hugues Schmit is currently chief commercial and operational officer at VINCI Airports and a non-executive director on the London Gatwick Board.

A statement on behalf of Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions and oresident of VINCI Airports, and Michael McGhee, deputy chairman of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), thanked Wingate for his years of service to Gatwick.

It reads: “During his tenure, passenger numbers have climbed from 30 million in 2009 to more than 43 million, fuelled by significant growth in long-haul routes and strong airline relationships.

“He has also overseen major transformations in areas including runway and airfield operations and security and embedded sustainability at the heart of airport operations. His broad expertise and strong track record make him an ideal choice for the newly created role of managing director for the UK as we look to maximise the opportunities across our UK portfolio.”

Wingate said: “It’s been a privilege to lead the London Gatwick team for over 15 years through a number of very exciting projects such as the seven-year planning process to bring our Northern Runway into routine use and more challenging periods such as the Covid pandemic.

“I have also been fortunate to have had the opportunity to engage with a broad range of local stakeholders as we have shaped and delivered our plans.

“The airport is in a strong financial and operational position with more airlines than ever before serving our passengers. I am delighted to be handing over to Pierre-Hugues and look forward to continuing to be involved with London Gatwick and working with the teams from Edinburgh and Belfast in my new role.”

The incoming Schmit, commented: “London Gatwick plays a vital role in the UK, by providing seamless access to both global and domestic markets and delivering substantial trade and economic benefits in the South East and beyond.

“I’m excited to be joining London Gatwick as Chief Executive to lead the airport through the next stage of its growth journey.”