She is taking over from Dave Lees who is stepping down at the end of the year
Bristol Airport has appointed a new chief executive as it continues to push for further expansion. Charley Maher will take over from current boss Dave Lees who has been at the helm of the transport hub since 2018 and will be stepping down at the end of the year.
Ms Maher is currently group chief executive of South Staffordshire Group, a regulated water and infrastructure services group, and has spent her career working in the travel, financial services and utilities sectors.
She held senior leadership roles with NatWest and Wessex Water/YTL Group before joining South Staffordshire as its top boss in 2023.
Jason Holt, chair of Bristol Airport, said the appointment followed an “extensive and highly competitive selection process”.
“Charley brings extensive experience of delivering long-term infrastructure investment, successful customer delivery, and the balancing of commercial performance with environmental and social responsibilities,” he said.
Under Mr Lees’ leadership, Bristol Airport has seen an unprecedented growth in passenger numbers and the delivery of a number of major projects, including a new public transport interchange as well as the positive outcome of a planning application to increase passengers to 12 million a year.
The airport, which became majority-owned by Macquarie Asset Management last year, now employs more than 5,800 people and supports thousands more jobs through the wider supply chain. It is currently undergoing a £400m upgrade and is seeking further expansion – to 15 million passengers a year – a move it says will create an extra 1,000 new jobs while increasing long-haul connectivity to global markets.
Ms Maher said: “I am genuinely excited to be joining Bristol Airport at such an important and ambitious stage in its journey. Having grown up, lived and worked in North Somerset and Bristol for many years, it is a real privilege to be appointed to such a key role that sits at the heart of the region I call home.
“The airport plays an important part in connecting people, supporting businesses and helping our communities thrive, and I’m looking forward to working with the team, partners and stakeholders to build on the fantastic work already achieved, and to help shape an ambitious and sustainable future.”
Mr Lees said it had been “the highlight of my career” to lead the team at Bristol Airport.
“Together we have delivered significant improvements for our customers, airlines and the community which we are proud to serve, including our industry leading position on our pathway to deliver net zero Airport operations by 2030,” he added.
Bristol Airport is England’s third-largest regional airport, with more than 10.8 million passengers passing through the terminal over the past 12 months and links to more than 120 destinations in 34 countries.






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