Operations chief at Heathrow joins exodus from BAA

Heathrow airport's head of operations has quit after only 16 months, the Evening Standard learnt today.

The departure of chief operations officer Nick Cullen, a logistics heavyweight who joined Heathrow in February 2010, follows a stream of resignations from Spanish-owned airports group BAA.

Other recent departures include Heathrow's director of communications, Malcolm Robertson and head of media Andrew Teacher.

Cullen oversaw Heathrow's security, engineering and investment programmes. He also took a lead role during the London airport's well-publicised struggles with snow last year.

An industry source said that Cullen had quit over BAA's reluctance to change, but this was denied by the airports operator.

A BAA spokesman said: "Nick Cullen has decided to leave BAA and has resigned from his position as chief operating officer, Heathrow. ... Terry Morgan, technical standards and assurance director, will take on Nick's responsibilities on an interim basis.

"Terry has experience of running a number of airports including Heathrow and his knowledge will ensure we maintain the pace of operational improvements for passengers.

"We will announce a permanent appointment in due course."

Cullen's departure comes despite the Royal Wedding helping the number of passengers flying through Heathrow jump to a record high last month.

It handled over 5.8 million passengers in May - 11.6% more than in the same month a year earlier.

Overall, BAA saw 9.34 million people fly through its six UK airports including Stansted last month, 9.2% higher than May 2010, which was hit by the Icelandic ash cloud and strikes.

Stripping out those issues, passenger numbers were up 5.2%.