W Talent is delighted to be partnering with London Gatwick Airport on the appointment of a Head of Property. A pivotal leadership role at one of the UK’s most high-profile and complex infrastructure environments.
This search comes at a transformative moment for Gatwick, following government approval of its landmark Northern Runway project, positioning the airport for significant long-term growth and investment.
A Defining Role at a Critical UK Asset
London Gatwick is far more than an airport—it is a dynamic, evolving estate that plays a vital role in the UK’s economy and connectivity. With over 40 million passengers a year and a growing global route network, the airport continues to expand both its reach and its ambition.
The recent sign-off of the £2.2 billion Northern Runway development marks a step-change in Gatwick’s future. Approved in September 2025, the project will enable dual runway operations by bringing the existing standby runway into routine use, unlocking a major increase in capacity.
Once operational, Gatwick could handle up to 80 million passengers annually and significantly increase flight movements, creating one of the most exciting growth stories in UK infrastructure today.
For the incoming Head of Property, this represents a unique opportunity to shape an estate undergoing large-scale transformation.
Leading a Complex, Multi-Disciplinary Function
This appointment will see W Talent identify a leader capable of overseeing a broad property ecosystem, including:
• Strategic estate planning
• Asset management
• Facilities management across a live, operational environment
The role requires someone who can bring these disciplines together into a cohesive, high-performing function, particularly critical as Gatwick embarks on a multi-billion-pound expansion programme that will reshape its physical footprint.
Working closely with senior stakeholders and external partners, the Head of Property will ensure that Gatwick’s estate evolves in line with both capacity growth and world-class passenger experience expectations.
At the Heart of Major Growth and Investment
The Northern Runway project is more than an infrastructure upgrade it is a catalyst for economic and commercial expansion.
The development is expected to:
• Generate up to 14,000 new jobs
• Deliver around £1 billion annually in economic benefit
• Increase annual flight capacity by up to 100,000 additional movements
Alongside a broader capital investment programme, this will drive new commercial opportunities across the estate from retail and logistics to airline partnerships and real estate optimisation.
For the Head of Property, this creates a rare platform to influence how a major international gateway grows, ensuring land, assets, and infrastructure are fully aligned to future demand.
Driving Performance and Long-Term Value
At its core, this is a commercially focused leadership role. The successful candidate will take ownership of Real Estate EBITDA, leading:
• Business planning and financial performance
• Revenue growth initiatives
• Cost optimisation and capital investment strategies
With expansion underway, there will be a particular focus on maximising asset value reconfiguring, optimising and future-proofing the estate to support increased passenger volumes, new facilities, and evolving operational needs.
Executive Influence and Strategic Impact
The Head of Property will play a key role at an executive level, contributing to long-term investment decisions and development planning.
As Gatwick transitions from the world’s busiest single-runway airport into a dual-runway operation, property strategy will be central to delivering:
• Seamless operational expansion
• Sustainable infrastructure development
• Enhanced customer experience
This is a strategic position requiring strong judgement, influence, and the ability to link property decisions to wider organisational goals during a period of rapid change.
The Leadership Profile
We are seeking a commercially astute property professional with a proven track record in complex, customer-focused environments.
The ideal candidate will bring:
• Strong financial and commercial acumen
• Experience leading diverse, multi-disciplinary teams
• A collaborative and inclusive leadership style
• Confidence managing high-value property transactions and partnerships
We are particularly interested in individuals with experience across infrastructure, transport, aviation, or similarly complex estates, where scale and operational intensity mirror the Gatwick environment.
Inclusion, Culture, and Leadership
A defining aspect of this search is the emphasis on inclusive leadership.
London Gatwick is committed to building a diverse and collaborative culture, and the Head of Property will be instrumental in fostering:
• A high-performing, accountable team environment
• Open collaboration across internal and external stakeholders
• Continuous improvement and innovation
W Talent is proud to support this commitment by reaching a broad and diverse talent pool.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
Opportunities of this scale and timing are rare.
With a major runway expansion now approved and moving forward, Gatwick is entering a new phase of growth that will reshape its estate, operations and commercial potential for decades to come.
This role offers:
• The chance to shape a nationally significant estate during expansion
• Exposure to complex, high-impact investment decisions
• Executive-level influence in a transforming organisation
• A direct role in delivering both commercial performance and passenger experience at scale
Partnering for Success
At W Talent, we specialise in identifying and securing leadership talent for critical roles across infrastructure and complex environments.
Our partnership with London Gatwick reflects a shared commitment to excellence, diversity, and long-term success—particularly at such a pivotal moment in the airport’s evolution.
Interested?
If you are a senior property leader ready to take on a role of scale, complexity and strategic importance at a time of unprecedented growth and investment we would be delighted to hear from you.
Contact Rebecca Booth to learn more about how you can play a key role in shaping the future of London Gatwick Airport.
