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BAA's managing director of London's Heathrow airport, who was responsible for assuring "cost, time, quality and safety" at Terminal 5, is leaving the airport operator with immediate effect.
Mark Bullock, who held overall responsibility for T5, is the third senior manager to depart since the terminal's disastrous opening on March 27, when hundreds of flights were cancelled and thousands of passengers’ bags were lost.
Last month, British Airways announced that Gareth Kirkwood, the director of operations, and David Noyes, the director of customer services, would be leaving the company.
BAA said today that Mr Bullock is leaving as part of a "structural change" already announced by the operator's new chief executive, Colin Matthews, who joined the company on April 1. However, less than a month ago, Mr Bullock was promoted to a new executive committee set up by Mr Matthews.
Mr Matthews said today: "Mark Bullock has made a significant contribution to BAA and to Heathrow Airport in particular and has led the airport through a particularly challenging period. I am grateful for his efforts."
Mr Bullock will be replaced by Mike Brown, currently the chief operating officer at London Underground, who will join the group in September. Until Mr Brown takes over, Heathrow's operation will be overseen by Terry Morgan, BAA's airport services director.
Mr Bullock said today: "Leading the team at Heathrow Airport is an intense and demanding role, but one I have enjoyed very much.
“The managing director role at the airport will change substantially under the new structure being introduced by Colin Matthews and, while I understand and support those important changes and the renewed focus on day-to-day operations, the time is clearly right for me to move on and take on new challenges.
"I wish my successor and everyone associated with Heathrow Airport every success in the future."
Mr Bullock first joined BAA in January 2004, as T5 programme assurance director where he was responsible for the "finance, commercial and risk management functions" as well as assuring "cost, time, quality and safety" at the yet to be opened new terminal.
Last year, Mr Bullock took overall responsibility for Heathrow when the previous chief, Tony Douglas, left BAA after calling the state of the airport "unacceptable", adding that it was "bursting at the seams" and was "held together by sticking plaster".
BAA, which is majority owned by Spain's Ferrovial, is currently struggling to refinance £10 billion worth of debt and last week secured £400 million in funding from investors to help enhance its credit rating that would help the company agree a cheaper rate of borrowing.
The difficulties with refinancing the debt means BAA may have to bring forward the sale of one its assets, potentially Gatwick, which could fetch at least £2 billion.
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Ah ah ! Somewhere between Benny Hill and Mister Bean.
I will make sure I avoid London next time I fly back to Europe.
I agree
Nicholas Iles, Oswestry, Shropshire
"...will be replaced by Mike Brown, currently the chief operating officer at London Underground..."
Ah ah ! Somewhere between Benny Hill and Mister Bean.
I will make sure I avoid London next time I fly back to Europe.
PS - Good luck
Quentin, Singapore,
I've been through T5 about half a dozen times and so far I haven't lost my luggage but have noted that the place is filthy, looks like it's been open for 5 years not 5 weeks. There is no evidnece that anyone is cleaning it up. A lot of the new kit is badly installed. noisy escalators, broken lifts.
Simon, Oxford, UK
One thing I felt quite ashamed about is a spelling mistake on a passenger notice sign at Heathrow which I noticed. I think it says "Ammendment" or something like that. But there it is, on a big, manufactured sign in immigration which may as well say, "We couldn't care any less."
iain carstairs, bedford, uk
Isn't it strange that nobody has taken REAL responsibility for his debacle?
John, Colchester,
Mike's appointment to this prestigious role reflects his record of delivering customer service at LU. Mike's contribution to the Underground has been phenomenal over the past 18 years in a series of roles. As Chief Operating Officer for the past five years Mike has served the Underground with distinction leading to record levels of performance and recognition from our peers. Mike will be sorely missed
Tim O'Tool, London, UK
"...will be replaced by Mike Brown, currently the chief operating officer at London Underground..."
Great news, London Underground, sooo famous for its duracrete-hard reliability and outstanding customer service. I'm waiting anxiously for the next T5-like disaster.
Erik, London, UK
I wonder how much his payoff will be?
SD, London,
Is LGW really only worth GBP2bn? Surely that's a typo?
johnny, london, uk
And how much was the severance package for this failure that embarrassed the whole of the UK? Clearly, reading between the lines this is a scripted exit negotiated by Bullock to keep his slim chances of re-employment alive. I wonder if his pay packet was lost in the T5 distribution system as well?
G Wheeler, Crewe,
Willie Walsh to the Transport Select Committee that he was responsible for the debacle at T5. He is the only one who still has a job! So, not that responsible then?
David Leslie, Perth, Scotland
About time BAA took some of the responsibility for the debacle. I wonder who thinks up these job titles?
Hamad Lone, London, England
Which is exactly what I dare say has happened, Paul...
Andy, London,
Where do big companies find their managers? They are supposed to be recruted from the top graduates but all they seem to be capable fo doing is thinking up stupid new colour schemes (look at BA's tail fins saga or anyone of the train companies for proof).
Luke, London, UK
Great news !!!
Ian Payne, WALSALL,
BAA is a really badly run business. Until it is broken up and there is real competition within the British aviation industry the company will go from bad to worse.
Beth Williams, Nottinghamshire,
Paul Owen, you are just jealous and ungrateful.
These leaders have done a wonderful job.
Still better news, now BAA and T5 will have a new Brown in the job. Hope he is a high flier...
Which Brown or Willy will leave office first?
john, elmstead, uk
I wonder...if Bullock ever flies from T5 what will his customer care be like......
Chris, Essex, UK
I would like to apply for one of these highly paid jobs. In order to ensure smooth running all they had to do was ensure that their staff were properly trained and they couldn't even do that. Why are the rules different for management than the rest? Basic incompetence equals no job. Easy.
Paul Owen, Birmingham, UK
"combine both roles"; Double the work for some poor mug. Yes, that should solve all the problems.
Bill Peter, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia