East Midlands Airport announces new MD

A new managing director has been appointed at East Midlands Airport (EMA).

Clare James replaces Karen Smart who is leaving EMA to take up a similar role at Manchester Airport, which is also owned by Manchester Airports Group (MAG).

James’ immediate focus will be to help the airport bounce back from the biggest crisis the aviation sector has ever seen.

Like many businesses, airports are adjusting to the ‘new normal’ and much work has been done to ensure that MAG’s airports are best placed to welcome back passengers safely and start to recover from the impact of COVID-19.

James will also build on the progress that has already been made in taking forward ambitious plans to grow EMA’s unique offer as both a key airport for leisure travel and the UK’s most important for express freight and dedicated air cargo traffic.

James has many years of experience in aviation and, like her predecessor, began her career in the RAF, where she served for 26 years, resulting in the rank of Group Captain.

For the past year she has held the position of operational excellence director at MAG where she led the group’s restart and recovery programme in response to COVID-19.

She joined MAG from NATS, the national body responsible for managing the UK’s airspace. There she had responsibility for air traffic control across some of the UK’s busiest airports, including Manchester and London Stansted.

Previous roles include airfield operations director for Serco.

She said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as EMA’s managing director.

“I join at a time when airports need to quickly adapt to multiple challenges; the Covid-19 pandemic, our commitment to sustainable growth, and the increasingly important role we have in the communities we serve. I will continue to operate and grow this airport responsibly and sustainably to ensure that it fulfils its potential as a global gateway for people and products, and as a good neighbour and member of the local community.

“Collaboration and cooperation have never been as important as they are in this current climate and I look forward to getting to know the region well and supporting the work that is underway to position the East Midlands as an attractive region in which to invest, grow businesses and live.”