Heathrow former head of cargo Platts to join Riyadh Airports Company

Heathrow Airport Limited’s former head of cargo, Nick Platts, will join DAA International to help develop Riyadh Airports Company’s cargo operation.

Platts’ final day at Heathrow was last week, ahead of his move to Saudi Arabia to take up a role with DAA International.

His new two-year director of cargo role will see him establish a cargo and logistics department as the airport operator works towards Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme.

Riyadh Airports manages and operates King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital and is working on upgrading infrastructure and expanding with new services and facilities.

It is currently in the process of doubling its cargo capacity to around 1m tonnes per year through the construction of new buildings and the development of existing facilities.

In august, Air Cargo News broke the news that Platts would be leaving his position at Heathrow.

Platts said that he would move on to a fresh challenge as the cargo programme was “well advanced” and he had done all he could to “build advocacy across the business and wider community”.

In an email, he thanked contacts for support, advice and guidance over his seven years at Heathrow and the last four-and-a-half years that he has spent preparing the west London airport for the cargo growth to come.

At the time Heathrow Airport declined to comment on its succession plans for the role.

Platts was appointed to the head of cargo role in 2015. At the time, he was the first person to lead the cargo business at the airport for around 20 years.

Previously he headed up ground handling at Heathrow and has also worked for FedEx.

He has spent the last few years trying to bring the airport’s cargo community closer together and drive increased transparency and digitisation.