IRELAND. Aer Rianta International (ARI) Chief Business Development & Implementation Officer Gerry Crawford has decided to leave the group after 31 years, effective from the end of December.
Nuno Amaral, currently Chief Operations Officer and previously CEO ARI Middle East, will assume the Business Development & Implementation mandate in addition to his existing role.
The company paid tribute to Crawford today, noting how he has been “a hugely influential figure in the development and growth of ARI globally”.
Before taking on the Business Development & Implementation mandate, Crawford held the role of Global Chief Operations Officer for five years.
He also previously held senior retail and airport commercial management roles in several of the company’s key international markets in Europe and the Middle East.
Crawford said: “Since joining the group as a graduate over three decades ago, I have had an exciting and very fulfilling career with daa and ARI, working with fantastic partners and colleagues across the world including my sixteen years spent living and working overseas.
“I’ve always been passionate about ARI, and particularly motivated to ensure that the key pillars of our global expansion strategy are in place which enables me to hand over the role with confidence. While this has been a difficult decision, with my length of service it was the optimum time to leave, and I am now looking forward to pursuing new opportunities. I would like to take this opportunity to thank ARI’s CEO, Ray Hernan, for his support and leadership and I wish him and the entire team at ARI the very best of success”.
ARI said it remains committed to “building its pipeline of opportunities to expand its current retail portfolio despite the unprecedented backdrop of the pandemic.” It noted that Amaral’s appointment would ensure a “seamless transition”.
ARI said: “Nuno will leverage his knowledge of the industry and its stakeholders to actively pursue strategic opportunities for new business. At the same time, he will continue to drive the business focus on retail performance, standards and excellence.”
Amaral will lead an experienced ARI business development and implementation team headed up by Sue Kelly as Head of Global Business Development and Ciaran Kelly as Head of Global Implementation.
CEO Ray Hernan said: “Gerry has been instrumental in the growth of ARI. He has consistently delivered compelling results while building and nurturing relationships internally and with our stakeholders across the world.
“I would like to thank Gerry and extend our very best wishes in his future endeavours. I have no doubt that Nuno will continue Gerry’s sterling work and I am confident of our team delivering growth in ARI’s retail portfolio in the coming years.”
