With deep sadness we report the sudden passing of Chris Woodruff, an airport and travel retail executive of great influence during a long and outstanding career.
Born in 1959 in Lancing, West Sussex in the UK, Chris spent 18 years with BAA, including a two-year stint as Heathrow Airport Retail Director from March 2001 and a period as the airport’s Customer Services Director.
He also held senior roles with World Duty Free (then owned by BAA), including four years as World Duty Free Americas Managing Director from 1997 to 2001, culminating in the sale of the company (formerly Duty Free International) to the Falic Group.
He was CEO at Budapest Airport from March 2005 until September 2006 and Interim CEO at Perth Airport from September 2006 until March 2007. Chris then led Melbourne and Launceston airports with much distinction as CEO of Australia Pacific Airports Corporation from August 2007 until June 2015. During his time in Australia he also served as a Director for Melbourne Convention Bureau and Tourism Victoria.
Long-term business associate, 36T Hub Founder Behzad Saednejad led the tributes on LinkedIn, writing: “I have known this amazing man for over 20 years, and he was one of the most competent and friendly clients I have ever had – loved and respected by all as the Retail Director of BAA and Managing Director of Melbourne Airport.”
Chris’s former colleague and boss Brian Collie wrote, “Very sad news indeed. Chris was an exceptional member of the BAA/WDF teams for many years and worked closely with all of us to help develop retailing and then airport operations across BAA’s global airport portfolio. He will be sorely missed by all of his old colleagues in the airport business.”
Bob Knowles, another former BAA colleague, said: “Chris helped me and all the people who worked for him. He was a great coach and leader.”
The Moodie Davitt Report joins with everyone in the aviation, tourism and travel retail communities who knew this dynamic, gregarious, talented and deeply respected man in expressing our sorrow on his passing and sending our condolences to his family. Readers can pay their tributes via the DISQUS platform below. These will be passed on to Chris’s family. ✈
