Kenny Jacobs has been appointed as CEO of DAA on a seven-year term, succeeding Dalton Philips, who left the airport authority for sandwich maker Greencore in September
The Cork native has extensive experience in marketing, commercial and operations in large consumer-service businesses, spending over six years at Ryanair, where he served as chief marketing officer.
He has also worked for major companies including the Metro Group, MoneySuperMarket, and Tesco in Ireland and the UK.
"I am delighted to be taking up this role at an important time for DAA and I am looking forward to working with DAA’s experienced and committed team, as well as our airline and airport customers and other stakeholders to progress our growth plans for a sustainable future," Jacobs said.
"I know first-hand the vital role that everyone at DAA plays in supporting inbound tourism, providing connectivity for businesses in an open island economy and enabling the love of travel that Irish consumers have.
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"My focus will be to deliver an efficient travel experience for consumers using our airports, supporting traffic growth and building on DAA’s vast experience of operating national strategic infrastructure, at home and abroad as a key economic enabler in terms of trade, tourism and social cohesion.”
State-owned DAA operates both Dublin and Cork airports, a global airport retailing business through subsidiary Aer Rianta International, and international aviation consultancy and investment through DAA International.
Basil Geoghegan, chairman of DAA, said: “We are delighted that Kenny is joining DAA as CEO. He brings a unique knowledge of aviation and retail businesses and understands the importance of excellent customer service, commercial growth, retail, and marketing and communications.
"He has a proven track record of putting the customer at the heart of the business and on the delivery of outstanding service. His leadership, expertise and experience will be vital to our operations at Dublin and Cork airports, in ARI and in DAA international as we embrace the growth opportunities that lie ahead. Kenny is keen to engage with our customers, employees and other stakeholders to champion the implementation of our new DAA corporate strategy under his tenure.
"I know Kenny will make a strong positive impact on our people and on our business at home and abroad. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation and that of the Board to Catherine Gubbins, who has acted as daa’s Interim CEO as well as fulfilling her role as CFO during the transition.”
In a trading update in September 2021, DAA said group turnover for the seven-month period to July 2021 was down 79% when compared to the same period in 2019.
DAA made a loss of €103.2m in 2021 after losing €187.4m in 2020, both years heavily affected by restrictions to air travel as a result of the pandemic.
The group recorded turnover of €324.1m and net assets of €908m. The company employs some 2,800 staff.
In a trading update in September 2021, group operating costs, after taking into consideration government supports, were cut by c. 54% when compared to the same period in 2019. Total net debt in July 2021 was €940m.
Group liquidity was c.€1,050m, comprising an undrawn €450m syndicated revolving credit facility and cash of €600m.
