KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 29): Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has appointed Gordon Andrew Stewart as the airport operator’s chief operating officer (COO), effective Oct 1.

It is understood that after MAHB’s previous COO Datuk Azmi Murad retired back in March 2021, the post was left vacant for the past two years.

Stewart, 55, currently serves as a global projects director for airport operator DAA International, as well as managing director of rail and airport-focused consultant firm Stewart & Stewart Partners Ltd, according to MAHB’s bourse filing on Friday.

DAA International is the international arm of DAA Group, an Ireland-based state-owned airport and travel retail group which operates Dublin Airport and Cork Airport.

In a separate statement, MAHB managing director Datuk Seri Iskandar Mizal Mahmood commented that Stewart is joining the group at a pivotal juncture, as it doubles down on bringing the operations of its core business to the next level.

“I am confident that he will assist in steering us towards innovative and sustainable operational excellence, in our pursuit to be an operator of world-class airports,” he added.

Prior to his stints at DAA International and Stewart & Stewart Partners, Stewart had served as chief executive officer and managing director of Maldives Airports Co Ltd, chief support services officer of Bahrain Airport Company, head of projects of First ScotRail, and had also worked at Bombardier Transportation, MAHB said.

Shares in MAHB ended six sen or 0.83% lower at RM7.13 on Friday, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM11.91 billion.