Geoff Culbert will stand down as Chief Executive of Sydney Airport at the end of 2023. Source: SYD Annual Report 2022.

Sydney Airport (SYD) Chief Executive Officer Geoff Culbert has decided that 2023 will be his final year in the post, as the airport triggers a global search to find a successor.

Culbert will continue in his role until the end of the year to aid a smooth transition, a statement read.

Having joined publicly listed SYD as its chief in January 2018 from multinational GE, Culbert went on to guide Australia’s largest airport through a successful restructuring, while navigating operations through the pandemic and managing the takeover of SYD by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and IFM Investors.

Paying tribute to Culbert’s achievements, Sydney Airport Chair David Gonski said: “We are enormously appreciative of Geoff’s skilled leadership during one of the most significant and disruptive periods in aviation history.

Timed handover

“This includes managing the airport through the pandemic when traffic was devastated by border closures, the recent rapid recovery, and dealing with the largest take-private transaction in Australian corporate history.

“As a leader, Geoff also built an outstanding team and culture that will endure long after he departs. We are pleased that Geoff will be staying on until the end of the year to give us the opportunity to conduct a global search and facilitate a smooth transition to a new CEO.”

Culbert commented: “It’s been a privilege to have led Australia’s premier domestic and international airport since 2018, and to work with such a wonderful team through a unique and challenging period in the airport’s history.

“By the end of the year the airport will be close to fully recovered, and that will be the right time to hand over to a new CEO who will lead the airport through the next phase.

“Sydney Airport has been part of the social and economic fabric of Sydney and New South Wales for more than 100 years and I’m confident it will continue to play a crucial role for the next hundred.”