Gittens to direct ACI

AIRPORTS Council International has appointed Angela Gittens as director general of ACI World, headquartered in Geneva. She will assume her role at the end of April 2008.

ACI chairman, James Cherry, said: “Angela Gittens is a well-known leader in the airport sector whose strong leadership skills will enable her to speak out effectively on behalf of the airports community. With over 1,600 ACI member airports to represent worldwide, it will be a challenging role. The ACI Board members are confident that she will be an outstanding spokesperson and advocate for airport interests, as she has demonstrated throughout her career.”

Gittens has served on numerous aviation industry boards and committees including the FAA’s Management Advisory Committee, the executive committee of the Transportation Research Board and the Board of Directors of JetBlue Airways.

“On behalf of the ACI World Governing Board, I wish to express our great thanks to the current director general Robert Aaronson, who will be retiring after a period of transition. In carrying out this demanding role for the past six years, he has strengthened ACI’s voice in the international arena, championing our positions and strengthening the airports’ role at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), with international aviation bodies and with our airline and air traffic control partners. He leaves a solid legacy of positive achievements for his successor in the areas of safety, security, environment and customer service, and he has been a leader in developing airport staff professionalism and training.”