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USA. Airport concession programme developer Airmall USA has appointed Brandon Blaylock as its new CEO and President, roles previously held by Mark Knight.
Blaylock will direct all of the company’s retail concessions operations at Pittsburgh International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
He will also oversee business development initiatives for Airmall as it grows its portfolio. His arrival comes as the company prepares to unveil a new brand identity.
A co-founder of private investment firm Faros Infrastructure Partners, Blaylock has more than 30 years of experience in development, engineering, banking, investments, company operations, and fund management. He has worked in the oil and gas, transportation, and energy sectors, including 18 years with General Electric.
“Few companies can say that they literally invented a concept,” said Blaylock. “Airmall revolutionised the way we think about airport concessions when it launched its approach at Pittsburgh International Airport more than 20 years ago, and since then, that approach has been emulated across North America.
“It takes vision and boldness to go against the norm and change the conversation, and I am proud to be leading a company with that thinking. This approach will propel us into our next chapter of revolutionising how people shop and eat when they’re at the airport.”
Airmall said its new brand identity will be one that “more readily speaks to its role as a change agent for airports and cities alike that seek to enhance the passenger experience and maximise revenues from a high-quality concessions programme”.
“Our new tagline is “˜Go With Us,’ and we believe it speaks definitively to what Airmall can bring to any airport,” Blaylock said. “When you go with Airmall, you’re going with an approach that brings the very best local, national and international brands together, and you’re committing to a programme that requires those operators to compete for the passenger’s dollar.
“This model set the industry standard and has generated among the highest-per passenger spends on the continent. Our programmes also turn into economic engines, bringing more jobs to the region and providing critical infrastructure dollars that translate into permanent improvements for airports.”
