Fraport USA has expanded its leadership team with an executive appointment and two promotions for its head office operations and concessions programmes at Baltimore/Washington and Pittsburgh Airports.

Gary H. Gilliard has been named Vice President of Operations for Fraport Maryland and will oversee the development, leasing, construction, marketing and management of the concessions programme at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).

Gilliard has more than a decade of expertise in the airport concessions industry, including roles in concessions management and as a retail operator. He launched a retail merchandise unit programme at Denver Airport (DEN) and became the programme’s lead manager. He also led a successful local business and minority participation programme at DEN.

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Fraport USA also revealed the appointment of Cathy Simoni in a new role of Director of Corporate Marketing and Customer Experience. This follows 27 years of service with Fraport Pittsburgh’s team where she directed and managed the airport’s retail operations, leasing and marketing.

She also oversaw the Blue Sky Project, a $10m redevelopment of the retail area at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). Fraport USA says PIT’s concessions programme has been an industry leader throughout her tenure, particularly for customer satisfaction and sales per enplaned passenger.

Finally, Amy Miktus has been promoted to Vice President of Operations at PIT and will oversee the leasing, construction, marketing, and management of 80,000sq ft of concessions space across the company’s PIT programme.

Mitkus brings more than 20 years of speciality retail experience with global brands such as Bath & Body Works and Sketchers. Having joined Fraport Maryland in 2012, she was appointed Director of Operations for the concessions programme at BWI Marshall Airport in 2017.

She was also part of the transition team which helped launch the Fraport USA project at JetBlue’s John F Kennedy International Airport Terminal 5.

Ben Zandi, president and CEO of Fraport USA said: “We are thrilled to grow our management team with seasoned professionals who represent Fraport’s culture of excellence. They each bring unique skills and qualifications that will advance our future vision of airports — benefiting our airport partners and travellers.”