Deakin stands down at NATS

Air traffic control body NATS has announced that Richard Deakin, Chief Executive, is standing down.

Deakin, who has been in the role for five years, will leave at the end of June.

NATS is seeking a replacement from internal and external candidates but said Martin Rolfe, Managing Director of Operations, will take over on an interim basis.

Chairman Paul Golby said that Deakin had led NATS “through a period of continued operational and financial improvement.”

"As the company embarks on the new regulatory period and prepares to implement the Single European Sky initiative, the board and Richard have agreed that now is an appropriate time to make a change to the leadership of the company, and to bring a new perspective and approach," he said.

The announcement comes after a computer glitch at the NATS centre at Swanwick in Hampshire before Christmas which caused disruption for 10,000 passengers at Heathrow and also hit flights to and from other UK and European airports.

Deakin was forced to apologise to MPs before the House of Commons Transport Committee.

As a public private partnership the UK government holds 49% and a golden share, with 42% held by the Airline Group (see below), 5% by NATS staff, and 4% by Heathrow Holdings Ltd. www.nats.aero

The Airline Group comprises:
USS Sherwood Ltd (Universities Superannuation Scheme)
British Airways Ltd 
Monarch Airlines Retirement Benefit Plan Ltd ​
easyJet Airline Company Ltd 
Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd ​
Deutsche Lufthansa AG​
Thomson Airways Ltd 
Thomas Cook Airlines Ltd 

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