BATA Gets New Chief Executive

April 29th, 2010

UK Airline Trade Body Gets New Chief Executive

Simon Buck has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association (BATA), the trade body for UK airlines. He will take over from Roger Wiltshire, who is retiring on 6th July 2010, after being with BATA for ten years.

Dr Barry Humphreys, BATA Chairman, said of Simon’s appointment:

“I am delighted that Simon has agreed to join BATA. Our industry continues to be under considerable pressure from government and regulators. With his experience of senior positions in First Choice Holidays, Air 2000 and the Department for Transport, Simon brings immense experience to the role of Chief Executive as well as an obvious enthusiasm for the industry. While after a decade in the role, Roger Wiltshire will be a difficult act to follow, I am confident that BATA will be in good hands in the future.”

Simon is currently head of public relations for the leading general qualifications awarding body AQA and a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Simon Buck Biography:

After graduating with a BA Hons in Economics and Public Policy from Leeds Metropolitan University, Simon endured early training as a chartered accountant before joining the Department of Transport as a graduate entrant in 1983. After holding various roles both in Westminster and the regions, he served as private secretary to the Minister for Aviation and also within the Department’s Civil Aviation Directorate before leaving to take up the role of External Affairs Manager at Air 2000 in 1995. He was subsequently promoted as Group Head of Industry Affairs at First Choice Holidays plc where he served until 2006.

During his time with Air 2000 and First Choice, Simon became a leading industry spokesperson on a range of consumer and aviation infrastructure issues, regularly appearing on local and national radio. He was also involved with BATA, sitting on the organisation’s Executive Committee for some ten years.

Since 2006, Simon has been head of public relations for the leading general qualifications awarding body AQA.

Simon is a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

In his spare time, Simon is a Justice of the Peace and enjoys classic car motoring and outdoor leisure interests including cycling, and walking. He lives in Surrey.