London City Airport has announced that, following an international search and selection process, Robert Sinclair will be appointed as chief executive of the facility.

He will replace Declan Collier who is stepping down.

Currently, Sinclair is the chief of Bristol Airport where he has held the position since 2008.

During this time Bristol Airport saw record growth in passenger numbers and profitability and successfully delivered a £160 million development programme.

Sinclair said: “I’m excited to be joining London City Airport. It’s an airport that plays a vital role in connecting Britain, and in particular its business community, globally and through the City Airport Development Programme it will be able to serve 6.5 million passengers per year, and 111,000 flight movements by 2025 – adding much needed aviation capacity at a time when Britain needs it most.”

A native of New Zealand, Sinclair is a qualified chartered accountant and solicitor.

Prior to taking on the role at Bristol he was the chief financial officer of Auckland International Airport following a ten year career with UBS in investment banking.

He is expected to take up the role at London City Airport from October 2017.

London City Airport chairman, Terry Morgan, said: “On behalf of the board I want to welcome Robert to London City Airport.

“He arrives at a very exciting point in the growth of the airport with our City Airport Development Programme due to commence from the end of this year.

“I have no doubt that the experience that he brings from his time at Bristol Airport and Auckland Airport before that will be very important in this next stage of London City Airport’s success story.”