Board & Executive
There is an amazing group of people in the NATS Board and Executive teams who dedicate themselves to the company’s purpose and success.
Board Member
Paul served as Chief Executive Officer of E.ON UK plc from 2002 to 2011 and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
He is Chair of Costain Group plc and a non-executive director of ERA Foundation.
Paul chairs the Nomination Committee. Paul also attends the Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee, Safety Review Committee and Transformation Review Committee by invitation.
Board Member
Mike joined the Board in 2017 having spent the previous11 years at easyJet initially as Group People Director and subsequently as Group Director Europe. During his time at easyJet he has also been Group Director, Transformation and has led on a series of strategic projects including the integration of GB Airways and the successful development of easyJet’s presence in Europe.
Mike’s early career has covered a range of sectors, from high end luxury goods to high volume, low margin electronics and he has direct experience across a number of disciplines. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Masters in Fluid Dynamics with a background in education and HR. He has operated in organisations across the world and has led businesses and change programmes across all of these. Mike is Chair of AG, Chair of the Transformation Review Committee and a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.
Board Member
Maria is Group HR Director for Morgan Advanced Materials, she was appointed to this role in November 2020. Until April 2020 Maria was Senior Vice President HR/Executive HR based in E.ON’s headquarters in Germany.
Maria joined E.ON in 2008 as the UK HR Director. During her time in the UK the business was significantly restructured and emphasis given to becoming a customer focused organisation. Prior to joining E.ON, Maria spent two years in the public sector as Group HR Director for Transport for London and 20 years with Ford Motor Company. Whilst at Ford, Maria was global HR Director for Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin.
Maria is Chair of Trustees of Transport for London’s Pension Fund. Maria chairs the Remuneration Committee and is a member of the Nomination Committee. She is also a director and chairs the NATS Employee Sharetrust. Maria is also the designated non-executive director for workforce engagement with the Board.
Board Member
Iain served 35 years in the Royal Air Force, retiring in 2010 as an Air Marshal. His military flight hours total over 4,300, the majority in fast-jet aircraft, but he also flew large multi-engine aircraft, light aircraft and helicopters.
He commanded a Tornado squadron from 1992-1995, a Tornado station from 1998-2000, and was Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group from 2005-2007. In his last appointment, Deputy Commander – Operations, he was responsible for generating and delivering all of the RAF’s front line operational capability. He had RAF responsibility for all safety and environmental matters, and was the RAF’s first Chief Information Officer.
Since 2010, Iain has been an aerospace, defence and security consultant. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Iain chairs the Safety Review Committee and is a member of the Transformation Review Committee.
Chief Financial Officer
Alistair joined NATS as CFO in August 2019. In addition to his responsibilities for finance Alistair leads NERL’s regulatory affairs team.
Previously he worked for SSE plc, most recently as Group Finance Director for its Regulated Networks and Enterprise divisions, as well as being responsible for Group Reporting, Tax and Treasury. He also spent time as Acting Managing Director for the Enterprise division.
Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte, working in both audit and corporate finance, Alistair subsequently held a number of senior roles in practice and industry focused on transport and infrastructure, including positions with John Menzies plc and FirstGroup plc.
Board Member
Gavin joined Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) in 2011 and is Co-Head Direct Equity with responsibility for sourcing, evaluating and monitoring investments within the infrastructure and related portfolio. Gavin serves on a number of portfolio company boards for USS as well as a number of advisory boards for infrastructure funds.
Gavin has worked in the infrastructure sector in the UK and Australia for 20 years. Prior to joining USS, Gavin was a Director at Equitix Limited.
Gavin graduated with an honours degree in Law from the University of Edinburgh and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. Gavin is a director of AG and a member of the Remuneration Committee.
Chief Executive Officer
Martin took up the post of Chief Executive in May 2015 having been Managing Director, Operations since 2012, with responsibility for NATS’ economically regulated UK and North Atlantic services.
An engineer by training, Martin holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Systems Engineering from the University of Southampton. He has 20 years of experience in the defence and aerospace industry, and prior to joining NATS was the Managing Director of Lockheed Martin’s Civil Division with responsibility for worldwide ATM programmes as well as UK Government business.
Martin has also worked for the European Space Agency and Logica plc.
Board Member
Harry spent most of his career in HM Treasury where he focused latterly on policies towards growth, science funding and privatisation and private finance.
He was UK Director at the European Investment Bank from 2001 to 2002. Harry left HM Treasury in 2002 to join the CAA Board as Group Director Economic Regulation responsible for the economic regulation of the designated airports and NATS, as well as the CAA’s economic analysis generally. He was a member of Eurocontrol’s Performance Review Commission from 2005 to 2009 and of the UK’s Commission for Integrated Transport from 2006 to 2010.
Since leaving the CAA in 2011, Harry has been a consultant on economic regulation, undertaking assignments across a range of industries in the UK and overseas. He was vice chair of UCL Hospitals Foundation Trust for six years until August 2019. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Harry is a director of The Airline Group Limited (AG) and NATS Employee Sharetrust, and a member of the Audit Committee.
Board Member
Richard is a non-executive director of Merrill Lynch International, Glaziers Hall Limited and a non-executive member of the Departmental Board of the Department for Transport.
He was previously a non-executive director of Sainsbury’s Bank plc, Wessex Water Services Limited and a Council member of the University of Birmingham. He retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2010 where he was a senior partner and Global Chief Accountant.
Richard chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Nomination Committee and Transformation Review Committee.
Board Member
Kathryn is currently Director of Operations at Heathrow Airport, where she holds functional responsibility for airside and airfield operations, as well as umbrella responsibility for the day-to-day management and operations of the Airport Operations Centre, resilience and emergency planning.
Kathryn sits on the Risk and Assurance Committee and chairs the Airspace Governance Board for Heathrow and is a Trustee for the Heathrow Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Charity. She joined Heathrow Airport in 2010 as Risk and Safety Director and has held a number of senior operational roles.
Kathryn started her career in financial services working for AIG, and moved to the aviation industry in 1997. She spent 13 years at Virgin Atlantic Airways running their Risk and Safety Management team, as well as establishing the Internal Audit department and Board Audit Committee. She is a member of the Safety Review Committee.
Board Member
With over 30 years’ experience in the airline industry, Hugh has held senior leadership roles across engineering and airline operations functions. He holds two senior roles with easyJet, Director of ATM strategy and Delivery and Director of Operations Gatwick.
Hugh started his career as an apprentice engineer for Britannia Airways moving on to work in freight and passenger operations with airlines across Europe. In his time with easyJet he has been responsible for line and hangar maintenance, maintenance operations control, deputy post holder for engineering for easyJet Switzerland, airline network operations and emergency response management.
During this time he led the merger of airline operations through acquisitions, implementation of new technologies and systems as well as managing large teams of people. Hugh is a director of AG and a member of the Safety Review Committee.
Board Member
Having completed a degree in Japanese and Business Management at Durham University, Louise joined British Airways on the graduate intake scheme in 1998.
Her first 8 years were in the commercial organisation specifically in Sales and Revenue Management. She then moved to the operational side of the business and has undertaken a number of senior management roles in Customer Service and Operations.
In March 2021, Louise was appointed into her current role as Head of Business Readiness which is responsible for overseeing the airline’s preparation to safely return to a full flying programme as demand returns following the Covid pandemic. Louise is a director of AG and a member of the Audit Committee.
Board Member
Paul served as Chief Executive Officer of E.ON UK plc from 2002 to 2011 and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
He is Chair of Costain Group plc and a non-executive director of ERA Foundation.
Paul chairs the Nomination Committee. Paul also attends the Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee, Safety Review Committee and Transformation Review Committee by invitation.
Board Member
Mike joined the Board in 2017 having spent the previous11 years at easyJet initially as Group People Director and subsequently as Group Director Europe. During his time at easyJet he has also been Group Director, Transformation and has led on a series of strategic projects including the integration of GB Airways and the successful development of easyJet’s presence in Europe.
Mike’s early career has covered a range of sectors, from high end luxury goods to high volume, low margin electronics and he has direct experience across a number of disciplines. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Masters in Fluid Dynamics with a background in education and HR. He has operated in organisations across the world and has led businesses and change programmes across all of these. Mike is Chair of AG, Chair of the Transformation Review Committee and a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.
Board Member
Maria is Group HR Director for Morgan Advanced Materials, she was appointed to this role in November 2020. Until April 2020 Maria was Senior Vice President HR/Executive HR based in E.ON’s headquarters in Germany.
Maria joined E.ON in 2008 as the UK HR Director. During her time in the UK the business was significantly restructured and emphasis given to becoming a customer focused organisation. Prior to joining E.ON, Maria spent two years in the public sector as Group HR Director for Transport for London and 20 years with Ford Motor Company. Whilst at Ford, Maria was global HR Director for Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin.
Maria is Chair of Trustees of Transport for London’s Pension Fund. Maria chairs the Remuneration Committee and is a member of the Nomination Committee. She is also a director and chairs the NATS Employee Sharetrust. Maria is also the designated non-executive director for workforce engagement with the Board.
Board Member
Iain served 35 years in the Royal Air Force, retiring in 2010 as an Air Marshal. His military flight hours total over 4,300, the majority in fast-jet aircraft, but he also flew large multi-engine aircraft, light aircraft and helicopters.
He commanded a Tornado squadron from 1992-1995, a Tornado station from 1998-2000, and was Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group from 2005-2007. In his last appointment, Deputy Commander – Operations, he was responsible for generating and delivering all of the RAF’s front line operational capability. He had RAF responsibility for all safety and environmental matters, and was the RAF’s first Chief Information Officer.
Since 2010, Iain has been an aerospace, defence and security consultant. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Iain chairs the Safety Review Committee and is a member of the Transformation Review Committee.
Chief Financial Officer
Alistair joined NATS as CFO in August 2019. In addition to his responsibilities for finance Alistair leads NERL’s regulatory affairs team.
Previously he worked for SSE plc, most recently as Group Finance Director for its Regulated Networks and Enterprise divisions, as well as being responsible for Group Reporting, Tax and Treasury. He also spent time as Acting Managing Director for the Enterprise division.
Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte, working in both audit and corporate finance, Alistair subsequently held a number of senior roles in practice and industry focused on transport and infrastructure, including positions with John Menzies plc and FirstGroup plc.
Board Member
Gavin joined Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) in 2011 and is Co-Head Direct Equity with responsibility for sourcing, evaluating and monitoring investments within the infrastructure and related portfolio. Gavin serves on a number of portfolio company boards for USS as well as a number of advisory boards for infrastructure funds.
Gavin has worked in the infrastructure sector in the UK and Australia for 20 years. Prior to joining USS, Gavin was a Director at Equitix Limited.
Gavin graduated with an honours degree in Law from the University of Edinburgh and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. Gavin is a director of AG and a member of the Remuneration Committee.
Chief Executive Officer
Martin took up the post of Chief Executive in May 2015 having been Managing Director, Operations since 2012, with responsibility for NATS’ economically regulated UK and North Atlantic services.
An engineer by training, Martin holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Systems Engineering from the University of Southampton. He has 20 years of experience in the defence and aerospace industry, and prior to joining NATS was the Managing Director of Lockheed Martin’s Civil Division with responsibility for worldwide ATM programmes as well as UK Government business.
Martin has also worked for the European Space Agency and Logica plc.
Board Member
Harry spent most of his career in HM Treasury where he focused latterly on policies towards growth, science funding and privatisation and private finance.
He was UK Director at the European Investment Bank from 2001 to 2002. Harry left HM Treasury in 2002 to join the CAA Board as Group Director Economic Regulation responsible for the economic regulation of the designated airports and NATS, as well as the CAA’s economic analysis generally. He was a member of Eurocontrol’s Performance Review Commission from 2005 to 2009 and of the UK’s Commission for Integrated Transport from 2006 to 2010.
Since leaving the CAA in 2011, Harry has been a consultant on economic regulation, undertaking assignments across a range of industries in the UK and overseas. He was vice chair of UCL Hospitals Foundation Trust for six years until August 2019. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Harry is a director of The Airline Group Limited (AG) and NATS Employee Sharetrust, and a member of the Audit Committee.
Board Member
Richard is a non-executive director of Merrill Lynch International, Glaziers Hall Limited and a non-executive member of the Departmental Board of the Department for Transport.
He was previously a non-executive director of Sainsbury’s Bank plc, Wessex Water Services Limited and a Council member of the University of Birmingham. He retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2010 where he was a senior partner and Global Chief Accountant.
Richard chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Nomination Committee and Transformation Review Committee.
Board Member
Kathryn is currently Director of Operations at Heathrow Airport, where she holds functional responsibility for airside and airfield operations, as well as umbrella responsibility for the day-to-day management and operations of the Airport Operations Centre, resilience and emergency planning.
Kathryn sits on the Risk and Assurance Committee and chairs the Airspace Governance Board for Heathrow and is a Trustee for the Heathrow Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Charity. She joined Heathrow Airport in 2010 as Risk and Safety Director and has held a number of senior operational roles.
Kathryn started her career in financial services working for AIG, and moved to the aviation industry in 1997. She spent 13 years at Virgin Atlantic Airways running their Risk and Safety Management team, as well as establishing the Internal Audit department and Board Audit Committee. She is a member of the Safety Review Committee.
Board Member
With over 30 years’ experience in the airline industry, Hugh has held senior leadership roles across engineering and airline operations functions. He holds two senior roles with easyJet, Director of ATM strategy and Delivery and Director of Operations Gatwick.
Hugh started his career as an apprentice engineer for Britannia Airways moving on to work in freight and passenger operations with airlines across Europe. In his time with easyJet he has been responsible for line and hangar maintenance, maintenance operations control, deputy post holder for engineering for easyJet Switzerland, airline network operations and emergency response management.
During this time he led the merger of airline operations through acquisitions, implementation of new technologies and systems as well as managing large teams of people. Hugh is a director of AG and a member of the Safety Review Committee.
Board Member
Having completed a degree in Japanese and Business Management at Durham University, Louise joined British Airways on the graduate intake scheme in 1998.
Her first 8 years were in the commercial organisation specifically in Sales and Revenue Management. She then moved to the operational side of the business and has undertaken a number of senior management roles in Customer Service and Operations.
In March 2021, Louise was appointed into her current role as Head of Business Readiness which is responsible for overseeing the airline’s preparation to safely return to a full flying programme as demand returns following the Covid pandemic. Louise is a director of AG and a member of the Audit Committee.
Board Member
Paul served as Chief Executive Officer of E.ON UK plc from 2002 to 2011 and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
He is Chair of Costain Group plc and a non-executive director of ERA Foundation.
Paul chairs the Nomination Committee. Paul also attends the Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee, Safety Review Committee and Transformation Review Committee by invitation.
Chief Executive Officer
Martin took up the post of Chief Executive in May 2015 having been Managing Director, Operations since 2012, with responsibility for NATS’ economically regulated UK and North Atlantic services.
An engineer by training, Martin holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Systems Engineering from the University of Southampton. He has 20 years of experience in the defence and aerospace industry, and prior to joining NATS was the Managing Director of Lockheed Martin’s Civil Division with responsibility for worldwide ATM programmes as well as UK Government business.
Martin has also worked for the European Space Agency and Logica plc.
Board Member
Mike joined the Board in 2017 having spent the previous11 years at easyJet initially as Group People Director and subsequently as Group Director Europe. During his time at easyJet he has also been Group Director, Transformation and has led on a series of strategic projects including the integration of GB Airways and the successful development of easyJet’s presence in Europe.
Mike’s early career has covered a range of sectors, from high end luxury goods to high volume, low margin electronics and he has direct experience across a number of disciplines. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Masters in Fluid Dynamics with a background in education and HR. He has operated in organisations across the world and has led businesses and change programmes across all of these. Mike is Chair of AG, Chair of the Transformation Review Committee and a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.
Board Member
Harry spent most of his career in HM Treasury where he focused latterly on policies towards growth, science funding and privatisation and private finance.
He was UK Director at the European Investment Bank from 2001 to 2002. Harry left HM Treasury in 2002 to join the CAA Board as Group Director Economic Regulation responsible for the economic regulation of the designated airports and NATS, as well as the CAA’s economic analysis generally. He was a member of Eurocontrol’s Performance Review Commission from 2005 to 2009 and of the UK’s Commission for Integrated Transport from 2006 to 2010.
Since leaving the CAA in 2011, Harry has been a consultant on economic regulation, undertaking assignments across a range of industries in the UK and overseas. He was vice chair of UCL Hospitals Foundation Trust for six years until August 2019. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Harry is a director of The Airline Group Limited (AG) and NATS Employee Sharetrust, and a member of the Audit Committee.
Board Member
Maria is Group HR Director for Morgan Advanced Materials, she was appointed to this role in November 2020. Until April 2020 Maria was Senior Vice President HR/Executive HR based in E.ON’s headquarters in Germany.
Maria joined E.ON in 2008 as the UK HR Director. During her time in the UK the business was significantly restructured and emphasis given to becoming a customer focused organisation. Prior to joining E.ON, Maria spent two years in the public sector as Group HR Director for Transport for London and 20 years with Ford Motor Company. Whilst at Ford, Maria was global HR Director for Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin.
Maria is Chair of Trustees of Transport for London’s Pension Fund. Maria chairs the Remuneration Committee and is a member of the Nomination Committee. She is also a director and chairs the NATS Employee Sharetrust. Maria is also the designated non-executive director for workforce engagement with the Board.
Board Member
Richard is a non-executive director of Merrill Lynch International, Glaziers Hall Limited and a non-executive member of the Departmental Board of the Department for Transport.
He was previously a non-executive director of Sainsbury’s Bank plc, Wessex Water Services Limited and a Council member of the University of Birmingham. He retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2010 where he was a senior partner and Global Chief Accountant.
Richard chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Nomination Committee and Transformation Review Committee.
Board Member
Iain served 35 years in the Royal Air Force, retiring in 2010 as an Air Marshal. His military flight hours total over 4,300, the majority in fast-jet aircraft, but he also flew large multi-engine aircraft, light aircraft and helicopters.
He commanded a Tornado squadron from 1992-1995, a Tornado station from 1998-2000, and was Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group from 2005-2007. In his last appointment, Deputy Commander – Operations, he was responsible for generating and delivering all of the RAF’s front line operational capability. He had RAF responsibility for all safety and environmental matters, and was the RAF’s first Chief Information Officer.
Since 2010, Iain has been an aerospace, defence and security consultant. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Iain chairs the Safety Review Committee and is a member of the Transformation Review Committee.
Board Member
Kathryn is currently Director of Operations at Heathrow Airport, where she holds functional responsibility for airside and airfield operations, as well as umbrella responsibility for the day-to-day management and operations of the Airport Operations Centre, resilience and emergency planning.
Kathryn sits on the Risk and Assurance Committee and chairs the Airspace Governance Board for Heathrow and is a Trustee for the Heathrow Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Charity. She joined Heathrow Airport in 2010 as Risk and Safety Director and has held a number of senior operational roles.
Kathryn started her career in financial services working for AIG, and moved to the aviation industry in 1997. She spent 13 years at Virgin Atlantic Airways running their Risk and Safety Management team, as well as establishing the Internal Audit department and Board Audit Committee. She is a member of the Safety Review Committee.
Chief Financial Officer
Alistair joined NATS as CFO in August 2019. In addition to his responsibilities for finance Alistair leads NERL’s regulatory affairs team.
Previously he worked for SSE plc, most recently as Group Finance Director for its Regulated Networks and Enterprise divisions, as well as being responsible for Group Reporting, Tax and Treasury. He also spent time as Acting Managing Director for the Enterprise division.
Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte, working in both audit and corporate finance, Alistair subsequently held a number of senior roles in practice and industry focused on transport and infrastructure, including positions with John Menzies plc and FirstGroup plc.
Board Member
With over 30 years’ experience in the airline industry, Hugh has held senior leadership roles across engineering and airline operations functions. He holds two senior roles with easyJet, Director of ATM strategy and Delivery and Director of Operations Gatwick.
Hugh started his career as an apprentice engineer for Britannia Airways moving on to work in freight and passenger operations with airlines across Europe. In his time with easyJet he has been responsible for line and hangar maintenance, maintenance operations control, deputy post holder for engineering for easyJet Switzerland, airline network operations and emergency response management.
During this time he led the merger of airline operations through acquisitions, implementation of new technologies and systems as well as managing large teams of people. Hugh is a director of AG and a member of the Safety Review Committee.
Board Member
Gavin joined Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) in 2011 and is Co-Head Direct Equity with responsibility for sourcing, evaluating and monitoring investments within the infrastructure and related portfolio. Gavin serves on a number of portfolio company boards for USS as well as a number of advisory boards for infrastructure funds.
Gavin has worked in the infrastructure sector in the UK and Australia for 20 years. Prior to joining USS, Gavin was a Director at Equitix Limited.
Gavin graduated with an honours degree in Law from the University of Edinburgh and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. Gavin is a director of AG and a member of the Remuneration Committee.
Board Member
Having completed a degree in Japanese and Business Management at Durham University, Louise joined British Airways on the graduate intake scheme in 1998.
Her first 8 years were in the commercial organisation specifically in Sales and Revenue Management. She then moved to the operational side of the business and has undertaken a number of senior management roles in Customer Service and Operations.
In March 2021, Louise was appointed into her current role as Head of Business Readiness which is responsible for overseeing the airline’s preparation to safely return to a full flying programme as demand returns following the Covid pandemic. Louise is a director of AG and a member of the Audit Committee.