Airport boss aiming high; NEW OPERATIONS DIRECTOR SETS OUT HIS AMBITIOUS PLANS.

Byline: ADAM JUPP

THIS is the high-flyer who has just landed a top job at the region's biggest airport.

Will Dougherty has jetted in as Newcastle International's new operations director, having previously worked for BAA.

In his previous role, the 44-year-old Glaswegian looked after security and major projects at Aberdeen and Southampton Airports.

He joins Newcastle's chief executive Dave Laws and fellow directors Simon Fisher and Kenneth Guldberg and today told the Chronicle of his aims on Tyneside.

Mr Dougherty said: "I am delighted to take up this exciting and challenging role.

"The airport is critically important to the North East region and one of my key objectives will be to make Newcastle International the best UK regional airport in terms of service delivery and staff performance.

"I am driven by a commitment to exceed our customers' expectations, empower our staff teams and finding ways to make the operational side of our business work more efficiently." Among Mr Dougherty's other responsibilities at BAA were terminal operations, the airport fire service, engineering and airside operations. He also looked after a pounds 2m training centre which focused on fire training in the offshore industry.

Under his directorship, Aberdeen Airport was voted the World's Most Improved in 2008 by the Airports Council International (ACI), while at Southampton, he secured a number of ACI awards including Top UK Airport and 5th Best Regional Airport in the World in 2009. Before entering the aviation industry, Mr Dougherty spent most his career in manufacturing, working in Europe and the US for companies including Weir Pumps, Yarrow Shipbuilders and Balmoral Tanks. At Newcastle International Airport, he has responsibility for managing all aspects of the airport's operations, including airside and land-side operations, projects, maintenance, security, the airport fire service and air traffic control.

Mr Dougherty was born in Glasgow and moves to Tyneside with wife Anne-Mette and their two children Mille, four, and Benjamin, three. He says all of them are looking forward to sampling Geordie culture.

He added: "My family are excited about our move to the North East. My daughter Mille has been accepted to Darras Hall First School, which we are delighted about."

In his spare time, Mr Dougherty enjoys watching football, horse riding, skiing, and spending time with his family.

Print Get the Mag Weekly Updates