Holland-Kaye will take up the role in July

John Holland-Kaye, currently Heathrow’s development director, will become the company’s new chief executive officer with effect from July 1st 2014.

As development director, he has been responsible for delivering the £1 billion annual investment in transforming Heathrow, including the new Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal, which will open to passengers in June.

He joined the company as commercial director in May 2009, and was responsible for a 30 per cent growth in retail income and improved passenger experience.

Holland-Kaye was previously divisional chief executive with Taylor Wimpey, operations director at Taylor Woodrow and divisional managing director at Bass Brewers.

Heathrow announced on April 1st that Colin Matthews will be standing down as Chief Executive Officer.

Holland-Kaye said: “I am very proud to have been chosen to succeed Colin as chief executive.

“We have worked closely together for the last five years to improve passenger experience, efficiency and resilience, to a point where Heathrow is increasingly seen as Europe’s hub of choice.

“My aspiration is to improve Heathrow as much in the next five years as we have in the last five years.”