DAE appoints airports CEO

Danish-born Kjeld Binger, 52, became chief executive of DAE Airports on January 15.

Binger joins from the international airports operator Copenhagen Airports A/S, where he was Executive Vice President, and CEO of its subsidiary Copenhagen Airports International A/S. The group operates airports in Denmark, the UK, Mexico and China.

DAE Airports is one of six divisions of DAE - the others being DAE Capital, DAE Manufacturing, DAE University, DAE Engineering and DAE Services - and will aim to take a leading role in global airport development and operations. Binger will report to DAE chief executive Bob Johnson.

Johnson said: "Kjeld has a superb track record in acquiring and developing airport assets around the world. His experience will be vital to DAE in achieving our own aims in this area and he will be building a team that will enable DAE Airports compete on a global level."

Binger, who holds a BSc in structural and civil engineering, joined Copenhagen Airports in 1994, initially as head of the planning and development department. From 1999 he was in charge of the acquisition of the concession rights to operate nine airports in Mexico, Copenhagen Airport's 49 per cent interest in Newcastle Airport in the UK and the 20 per cent interest in Hainan Meilan Airport Company Ltd in China.

His most recent positions included being chairman and acting CEO of ASUR Mexico and chairman of Copenhagen Airports A/S Real Estate A/S. He was also on the board of Newcastle International Airport in the UK, ITA Mexico and Hainan Meilan International Airport in China.

Binger said: "DAE has a clear aim and vision to become a leader in the global aerospace industry and this is a unique opportunity to establish an airports business that will form a key component of it. I am thrilled to have been asked to undertake this challenge and look forward to building a DAE Airports business that will be a partner of choice for airports worldwide."