AOA Media Release
For immediate release - 26 November 2010
Airport Operators Association appoints new CEO – Darren Caplan
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The Airport Operators Association (AOA) has hired Darren Caplan as its new CEO. Caplan has been appointed to promote the AOA's collective interests and the reputation of the UK airport industry, including influencing government and regulatory policy and encouraging a balanced debate that recognises the value of airports to the UK’s economy and society. Caplan has 14 years’ experience in communications, public affairs and politics in a number of sectors, including infrastructure, planning and technology. |
He has worked for public affairs and communications agencies PPS Group, Morgan Allen Moore and for the last four years Brands2Life, as director of its public affairs practice. His political experience includes working for the Conservative party and standing recently as a general election parliamentary candidate against Diane Abbott.
Ed Anderson, Chairman of the AOA, said:
“We are delighted Darren Caplan has agreed to become our new CEO. This is a crucial time for airports, with our members facing a number of challenging issues such as aviation taxation, security, planning, climate change and the role of infrastructure in the economy, to name a few.
“Darren’s skills and experience are well-suited to the next stage of the AOA’s development; and the Board and our AOA members look forward to working with him over the coming months to take the AOA and its members’ interests forward.”
Darren Caplan, the new CEO of the AOA, said:
“It’s certainly exciting to be joining the AOA at this challenging time, with a new government bedding in and a UK economy desperate for the types of jobs and investment which airports create.
“I’m incredibly passionate about aviation and the freedoms which airports bring, be they global trade benefits to UK plc, boosting regional and local growth, or enabling millions of people to holiday and visit friends and family in the UK and around the world.
“I look forward to working with Ed, the AOA team and the members to help promote UK airports and all the benefits they undoubtedly bring.
Darren Caplan will become Chief Executive of the AOA on 19 January 2011. His successor Director of Public Affairs at Brands2Life has been announced as Phil Murphy.
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Notes
The Airport Operators Association (AOA) is the trade association that represents the interests of British airports.
For further information and for media requests, please contact the AOA – 020 7799 3171.