London Southend Airport has announced that Marc Taylor, Director of Operations, will take the role of acting Chief Executive Officer following the departure of the airport’s current CEO, John Upton – effective immediately.
Upton, who joined London Southend in September 2022, said he had decided to step down to “pursue new opportunities”. In his role, Upton led London Southend on a pathway to recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic, including an increase in destinations from three to 15 and a multi-year deal with easyJet as its 10th UK aircraft base.
“London Southend has successfully navigated its way through a number of challenges over the past few years but now boasts a solid foundation for future growth. I very much look forward to celebrating the airport’s continued success, and I will, of course, be a frequent flyer,” Upton added.
Marc Taylor has been appointed acting Chief Executive Officer following Upton’s departure. Photo: London Southend Airport
Marc Taylor, who joined London Southend in 1998, thanked the CEO for his leadership and said that his focus on the airport would be: “continuing to provide travellers with exceptional customer service and building on the airport’s recent momentum.”
“London Southend remains a key asset to Southend City and the East Anglia region, and I look forward to working alongside our highly skilled teams as we continue to capitalise on the many opportunities that lie ahead,” he added.
As London’s sixth airport, London Southend offers services to around 40 domestic and European cities and is set to grow. In June, it unveiled its new C3 screening equipment, which allows passengers to leave 2 litres of liquid and all electronic items in their hand luggage.
