Manchester born Matthew Thomas has been appointed as the new chief executive for Shannon Group plc.
With 20 years’ experience in the industry, Mr Thomas (43) joins the Shannon Group from the Vantage Airport Group, where he is currently chief commercial officer.
Mr Thomas, who has worked with the Vantage Airport Group since 2008, has been involved in the majority of Vantage’s thirty airport projects across four continents, including nineteen significant airport transitions.
As chief commercial officer, he has been responsible for leading the implementation of the group’s business development strategy, most recently in New York, where he played a leading role in winning the $4 billion redevelopment contract of the Central Terminal at La Guardia Airport, the largest public-private-partnership in the United States.
Rose Hynes, chairman of Shannon Group, said “Mr Thomas brings to the role a deep knowledge of the aviation industry combined with significant commercial experience.”
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, said,“Matthew Thomas takes over the reins at a very important time for the group. Shannon Airport has seen a welcome turnaround over the past three years with passenger numbers up by over 22%. There are opportunities and challenges to grow the airport further in the years ahead and Mr Thomas brings the experience and expertise to guide it successfully in that direction.”
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.