The Board of Airport Coordination Limited (ACL) is delighted to announce the appointment of Richard Deakin as Chair, succeeding Lesley Cowley. Lesley departs after six highly successful years, seeing ACL through the pandemic, an increasingly complex regulatory environment, a doubling in customer numbers and a growing presence in new international markets.
Neil Garwood, Chief Executive, said:
“ACL exists to achieve the best solutions for airports and airlines in a fair and independent way, and Lesley’s leadership during the past six years has been crucial as aviation first weathered and then recovered from the pandemic. ACL’s service ethos, improved resilience and international status have all been overseen by her expert influence, and the Board extends its sincere thanks to Lesley for her outstanding contribution during this period.”
Richard Deakin brings extensive experience in aviation and technology, with a proven track record across air traffic management, aerospace, and telecoms. He currently serves as Chief Executive of World Mobile Stratospheric, leading the development of high-altitude platform systems to deliver wide-area 5G coverage. Previously, Richard was Chief Executive of NATS (2010–2015) and held senior roles at Thales, BAE Systems, and GKN.
A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Richard holds a first-class degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Kingston University, an MBA from Cranfield School of Management, and an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering from Kingston University. He has served on industry bodies including the CANSO Executive Committee and advises on unmanned aerial systems and traffic management.
Commenting on his appointment, Richard Deakin said:
“I am delighted to be joining ACL as Chair and to be working with Neil and the Board at such an important time for the business and the wider aviation sector. ACL has a strong reputation as the leading airport coordinator, built on principles of neutrality, transparency, and effective slot management. I look forward to building on the excellent leadership that Lesley has provided and supporting the team as we help airports and airlines manage growing demand.”
Lesley Cowley added:
“It has been a pleasure to lead the ACL Board for the last six years, a period of significant change and growth for both the company and the aviation industry. I wish Richard and the team every success.”
