(Reuters) -Former BT Group CEO Philip Jansen, who now chairs marketing services group WPP, is in advanced talks with Heathrow’s board and shareholders about taking on the role of chairman of the airport, Sky News reported on Saturday.
Jansen is said to have emerged as the frontrunner among shortlisted candidates and an announcement could come within weeks if the discussions reach a successful conclusion, the report said, citing sources.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Heathrow Airport declined to comment.
In July, Sky News reported that the British aviation hub was working with headhunter Russell Reynolds Associates to recruit a successor to Paul Deighton, who took up the post in 2016.
Deighton’s tenure as chairman was due to expire on April 30, 2025, after he had served nine years in the role. However, due to recent board changes and relatively new leadership appointments, he had been asked to extend his term.
“I have… agreed to extend my role as Chair for a limited period to ensure continuity and stability on the HAHL Board during this period of transition,” Deighton said in the company’s annual report.
Jansen’s experience as the CEO of BT Group, a regulated entity, from 2019 to early 2024 is said to have been key to his selection as the preferred candidate, Sky News said.
The executive, who began his career at Procter & Gamble, has previously served as CEO at both Worldpay and Brakes Group, and has held leadership roles at Sodexo Group, Telewest, MyTravel and Travis Perkins, according to his profile on WPP’s website.
(Reporting by Rhea Rose Abraham in Bengaluru; Editing by Jan Harvey)
