London Heathrow Airport (LHR) has named Copenhagen Airport (CPH) CEO Thomas Woldbye as the UK hub’s new chief executive, replacing John Holland-Kaye, who announced earlier this year his departure from the post after nearly 10 years in the role.

The transition will take place later in 2023, with Holland-Kaye staying on to oversee LHR’s summer season. 

Heathrow Chairman Paul Deighton said the selection of Woldbye was made following an “extensive and rigorous review of candidates.” 

“Thomas’s achievements at Copenhagen not only mirror Heathrow’s long-term strategy, but his track record in successfully running a major airport and working closely with stakeholders to secure consensus and deliver positive results stood out in the selection process,” Deighton said.

Woldbye has been serving in the top spot at CPH since 2011. Previously, he worked for Møller-Maersk for 27 years, where he led the company’s global shipping and ferry divisions.

Woldbye will take over leadership of an airport with a staff of nearly 7,000 employees and handles around 200,000 passengers and 1,300 flights daily. 

Holland-Kaye became CEO of Heathrow in 2014. During his tenure, the airport faced challenges, including trying to push forward plans for a third runway, controversies over airport charges, and then the COVID-19 pandemic. During the post-pandemic travel rebound last summer, LHR had to impose a controversial cap on capacity because of staffing shortages.

“Having served as the CEO of Copenhagen Airport since 2011, Thomas brings with him a wealth of experience and a proven track record as a CEO of a major airport championing passenger service, sustainability and growth,” Heathrow said, crediting Woldbye with “turning [CPH] into the powerhouse transport hub of northern Europe with an award-winning passenger service ranking.”

Woldbye said he is “excited and proud, as well as humbled, to have been chosen to lead what is arguably the most famous airport in the world on its future journey ... Heathrow is an important engine for the British economy and inextricably linked to the success of London and the wider UK. I look forward to being part of charting the path for this iconic company.”

Holland-Kaye said he “worked with Thomas over recent years and am a great admirer of his leadership on diversity and sustainability and his championing of the needs of passengers.”