Former BT Group chief Philip Jansen is tipped as the next chairman of Heathrow Airport as Britain’s biggest air hub prepares to carry out an expansion costing almost £50 billion.
Sky News has learned that Mr Jansen, who chairs FTSE-100 marketing services group WPP, is in advanced talks with Heathrow’s board and shareholders with a view to taking up the role.
If the discussions are successful, sources indicated that an announcement could come within a few weeks.
Mr Jansen reportedly emerged as the frontrunner on a shortlist of candidates compiled by headhunters at Russell Reynolds Associates.
His experience as boss of BT, a regulated utility, is said to have been instrumental in his selection as the preferred candidate.
Mr Jansen has also led companies such as MyTravel and Worldpay.
The appointment of a successor to Lord Deighton, who has held the role for nine years, comes at a critical time for Heathrow.
In August, the airport submitted a revised expansion plan including a third runway costing £21 billion, £12 billion for a new terminal and parking capacity, and £15 billion to upgrade the current airport through the expansion of Terminal 2.
The existing Terminal 3 would ultimately be closed.
Heathrow welcomed a record 83.9 million passengers and insists a third runway is essential to growing the UK economy given the volume of exports passing through the site.
“It has never been more important or urgent to expand Heathrow,” airport chief executive Thomas Woldbye said in August.
“We are effectively operating at capacity at the expense of trade and connectivity.
“With the green light from Government and appropriate policy support supported by a suitable regulatory model, we are ready to mobilize and start investing in our supply chain across the country this year.
“We are uniquely positioned to do this for the country; it is time to pave the way for takeoff.”
Many airlines are opposed to the expansion, alarmed by the potential rise in prices for using the airport.
The plan was backed by the government, however, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves saying a third track would “unlock more growth, boost investment, increase exports and make the UK more open and connected as part of our plan for change”.
Heathrow’s next chairman will lead a board dominated by representatives of the airport’s major shareholders.
Mr Woldbye apologized in May for falling asleep during the March power outage which forced the temporary closure of Heathrow.
The airport said it would implement recommendations from a study led by former Transportation Secretary Ruth Kelly.
Heathrow’s search for a new chairman comes months after the most significant changes to its ownership structure in years.
Ardian, a French investment group, now owns 32.6% of the company following a series of transactions over the past 12 months.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund also became an investor.
Heathrow never officially announced Lord Deighton’s intention to step down, other than a disclosure in its annual report in which he wrote:
“In light of recent changes to the HAHL (Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited) Board… the Nominations Committee… has asked me to extend my term for a limited period to ensure a smooth transition while the new non-executive shareholder directors become familiar with the business and a new chairman is appointed.
“I have therefore agreed to extend my role as Chairman for a limited period to ensure the continuity and stability of the HAHL Board of Directors during this transition period.”
A Heathrow spokesperson declined to comment, while Mr Jansen could not be reached for comment.