Director of IT Appointment, Gatwick Airport
The Client
Gatwick Airport is one of the UK’s most significant and strategically important transport hubs, connecting millions of passengers every year and underpinning a substantial portion of the national economy. Renowned for its efficiency, customer focus and operational resilience, Gatwick operates within one of the most complex 24/7 environments in the country.
The airport is now entering a transformative period, supported by a multi-billion-pound infrastructure programme and a bold commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Technology sits at the heart of this ambition. From passenger experience and operational reliability to sustainability and security, digital leadership has become central to the airport’s evolution.
The Requirement
To support this next chapter, Gatwick Airport sought to appoint a Director of IT with the vision, capability and leadership presence to redefine its digital future. This was far more than a maintenance-focused role; the business needed an individual who could set a progressive technology strategy, lead a large multi-disciplinary team and ensure resilience across mission-critical systems operating round the clock.
The ideal candidate would bring significant experience from complex, customer-driven sectors—someone comfortable balancing innovation with stability, able to navigate the pressures of a high-profile operating environment and committed to long-term transformation. This appointment would play a pivotal part in delivering Gatwick’s sustainability, digital and operational goals.
The Solution
Novo partnered closely with Gatwick’s senior leadership team to build a detailed understanding of the strategic and cultural requirements of the role. With the airport’s digital agenda moving at pace, it was essential to identify a leader who could influence at Board level while remaining grounded and collaborative in approach.
Novo designed a highly targeted search strategy, focusing on senior IT executives with experience in mission-critical settings, particularly across aviation, transport, infrastructure and other complex service environments. We compared external candidates with internal applicants.
Our work included:
- Mapping top IT leadership talent across relevant UK and international sectors
- Engaging senior candidates with proven experience in digital transformation and operational resilience
- Assessing leadership style, cultural alignment and strategic thinking
- Managing a discreet, inclusive and diversity-aligned search process
Throughout the search, equal emphasis was placed on long-term vision, people leadership and the ability to drive change in an environment where customer experience and system reliability are non-negotiable.
The Outcome
Gatwick Airport appointed an exceptional Director of IT who brought both strategic insight and practical operational depth. From the outset, the successful candidate demonstrated the ability to influence, collaborate and energise teams across the organisation. Their early impact has strengthened Gatwick’s resilience, accelerated key digital initiatives and supported the airport’s ambition to remain a leader in innovation and sustainable aviation.
This appointment represents a major milestone in Gatwick’s journey towards a smarter, more connected and climate-conscious future, reinforcing the airport’s position as one of the UK’s most forward-thinking transport hubs.
