Copenhagen Airports A/S (CPH) has announced that long-serving executive Christian Poulsen will take the helm at the Copenhagen Airport operator, effective 1 January 2024.

He has been Acting CEO since 30 September following the resignation of Thomas Woldbye after 12 years’ service and his subsequent move to become the new CEO of London Heathrow Airport.

Poulsen has held various leadership positions at Copenhagen Airport over the course of more than 14 years, including occupying the post of Chief Operating Officer for the past four.

In a statement, the Copenhagen Airports Board confirmed it had appointed Poulsen ‘after a thorough recruitment process led by an international research firm’ and that he possesses the necessary blend of in-depth operational knowledge, an understanding of the airport’s stakeholders, and competent leadership to ensure positive future development.

Terminal 3 developments

“I am very proud and humble to have received the opportunity to become CEO of Copenhagen Airports,” said Poulsen.

“I look forward to using my insight and experience from my years at the airport to continue developing the airport and taking it to a new level for the benefit of passengers, business partners and Danish infrastructure.

“I will contribute to ensuring that CPH remains an attractive and competitive airport for many years to come.”

The move comes amid a busy time for CPH, which served 20.3 million passengers in the first nine months of 2023 – an increase of 3.9m compared with the same period in 2022.

It is developing its Terminal 3 area, including improvements to the commercial offer, in addition to forging partnerships to develop and test sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and creating more space for noise-reduced and fuel-efficient aircraft.

As reported, Gebr. Heinemann recently unveiled a multi-sensory experience space in its main tax free airside store.

Elsewhere, the airport is undergoing what it characterises as ‘an ambitious digital development that will strengthen both the passenger experience and internal work procedures’.