Vancouver Airport Authority is proud to announce that our very own President & CEO, Craig Richmond, is the recipient of Airport Council International – North America’s new Excellence in Visionary Leadership Award. This award recognizes the extraordinary leadership of an airport executive who best exemplifies a range of competencies including communication, ethics, relationship management and business acumen.
“It’s an absolute honour to receive ACI-NA’s Excellence in Visionary Leadership Award,” said Craig Richmond. “YVR’s community-based governance model means that our success comes from a group effort. So this award reflects not just myself but also the amazing YVR team, who go beyond every day to deliver an exceptional airport experience, and our supportive communities—who are proud of YVR and what we have become.”
Presented at ACI-NA’s annual conference in Montreal on September 24, the award is based on extensive research and best practices from industry leaders. The award received strong applications from eligible organizations across North America, demonstrating the need to recognize those whose vision and hard work has helped the airport industry excel and grow.
“In today’s complex environment, running a modern and competitive airport is no easy task,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “Craig’s distinguished leadership and commitment to the aviation industry drives an innovative and engaging business strategy that benefits Vancouver’s workforce, passengers, and community. ACI-NA is pleased to recognize Craig’s important contribution to North American airports with this award."
Craig’s success is grounded in the perspective he gained while running private shareholder-based airports and YVR, which is based on a not-for-profit model. YVR’s model has allowed for innovative solutions that benefit the public and communities across B.C. This includes revenue sources such as YVR’s industry-leading BORDERXPRESS™ kiosks, which are now available at airports and seaports around the world, and the new Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport—a joint partnership between YVR and McArthurGlen.
Under Craig’s guidance, YVR has set a vision is to become a world-class sustainable connecting hub between Asia and the Americas—with an ambitious goal to reach 25 million passengers by 2020. YVR is the fastest-growing and second largest airport in Canada, having welcomed a record 20.3 million passengers in 2015 with over 21 million expected in 2016. YVR has added seven new airlines and 32 new services between 2014 and 2016, with significant growth from its long-standing partner Air Canada.
ABOUT CRAIG RICHMOND
Craig brings a strong aviation and business background to Vancouver International Airport (YVR). After starting his career as a pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force, he went on to receive an MBA at the University of Manitoba and then worked his way up to positions within Vantage Airport Group—a share capital corporation managing airports around the world—as CEO of six airports in three countries. In 2013, he joined YVR as President & CEO, instilling a culture of innovation and accountability that has set YVR above the competition.