GLASGOW PRESTWICK AIRPORT LIMITED - Key Persons


Bill McPherson

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Non - Executive Director
Prior to this Bill held various management positions in Air UK and British Airways both in the United Kingdom and Overseas.

Ian Forgie - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Executive Management Team
Having successfully performed as CFO at the airport for three years the board appointed Ian as deputy CEO in Oct 2020 and as CEO in May 2021. In Ian's early career he set up and ran his own businesses before qualifying as a Scottish CA. In 1999 he took up position of Group Financial Controller at the Airport for 2 years while owned by Stagecoach Plc. He then moved on to develop his career with various senior management roles within large and SME businesses, before returning to the Airport in 2018 joining a new board and, together with a refreshed executive team, successfully turned the business around. Ian's commercial and financial experience spans over 35 years and as well as the aviation sector he has worked in leadership roles in pharmaceuticals, distribution, dairy and technology sectors in the UK and USA. Ian has built up a wealth of business management experience and commercial acumen from working in complex businesses, where he has dealt with restructuring, corporate governance as well as stakeholder and people management and is passionate about continuing to develop the success story delivered by the business in recent years, ensuring that the airport remains an important part of the economy and community in which it operates.

Jamie Ross

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
Jamie brings with him extensive experience within the transport sector and global aviation services following his six years of leading Menzies Aviation's commercial activities across the world with major airline and fuel companies, building relationships with customers, partners and suppliers. His career has encompassed a wide variety of leadership roles, most recently as Executive Vice President - Commercial for Menzies Aviation. Prior to that he held senior commercial and business development positions with the Go-Ahead Group plc and Serco Group plc. He held operational and general management positions at Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) and Northern Rail. He also had a four-year period in the Scottish Government, working across multiple sectors of the transport industry. As a result, he has considerable knowledge of both public and private sector transport operations and an in depth understanding of the role that transport plays in the wider economy.

Juan Merrill - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Finance Director
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Executive Management Team
A Chartered Management Accountant with over 30 years' experience in business Juan's career has spanned technology, banking, printing and engineering. Juan's career in finance starting in engineering then moving into the printing industry and becoming a Site Finance Director for the largest privately owned printing group in Europe. During an extensive period in corporate banking , Juan held senior roles in Finance & Strategy, Technology, Risk Management and Capital Efficiency. Prior to joining the airport in March 2020 Juan held the position of Head of Finance for a rapidly growing international technology company, headquartered in Portugal. Juan has extensive experience across business planning and control, risk management, data management and stakeholder engagement. He has helped turn-around struggling businesses and delivered several business efficiency change programmes.

Jules Matteoni - COO

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Executive Management Team
  • Operations Director
  • Aviation Leader
With extensive experience in the aviation industry, Jules is an accomplished aviation leader. Jules joined Glasgow Prestwick Airport in 1994 with his first role being in the Airport Fire Service.

Mr. Nigel Wallace

Job Titles:
  • Secretary

Paul Neep

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Non - Executive Director
Paul's executive career was with leading international companies in the paper, pharmaceutical, hospitality and drinks industries. Paul was the Chief Executive Officer of Glenmorangie PLC / The Glenmorangie Company for 14 years where he led its successful international development and growth; the sale of the Company to LVMH and significant transformation and capital development programmes. As a Non-Executive, Paul was, until mid-2017, on the Board of Devro PLC for 12 years where he was the Senior Independent Director, Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit Committee. Post his role as Chief Executive, Paul was the Chairman of The Glenmorangie Company for 4 years and was a Director/ Council Member of the Scotch Whisky Association for 13 years.

Sonia Rafferty - CHRO

Job Titles:
  • Human Resources Director
  • Member of the Chartered Institute of Personal Development
A highly proficient leader with extensive experience in Human Resources at a senior management level across the aviation and manufacturing sectors since 1997. Sonia is accountable for Human Resources, People Development, Occupational Health, Data Protection, FOI & Records Information Management. Sonia has led Human Resources at the Airport since 2000 and in this time she successfully led staff through periods of significant change. Testament to this is the 0.6% staff turnover rate and 50% with more than 10 years' service. Sonia is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD) with a qualification from Strathclyde University. Sonia also is a qualified paralegal in employment law, has a Diploma in Neuro Linguistic Programming and a qualification in train the trainer.

Willie Mackie

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Interim Non - Executive Chairman
Following a 36 year career in Financial Services where he held a number of senior positions in Risk and regional management, Willie established his own business consultancy in 2013. In addition to his business career, Willie has held a number of Non-Executive appointments in the public sector. He was appointed to the board of Skills Development Scotland in 2014 where he is Chair of the Finance, Operational and Performance Committee. In 2015, he was appointed to the board of Scottish Enterprise as Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and subsequently appointed Deputy Chair of the board of management in 2018. Over the past 20 years he has held a number of local and national roles supporting economic and skills development. In 2014 he was appointed Regional Chair of Ayrshire College. He is also a board member of Colleges Scotland where he is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. He is a past president of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry and received an honorary doctorate from the University of the West of Scotland in 2019.

Zoe Kilpatrick - Chief Commercial Officer

Job Titles:
  • Commercial Director
An experienced commercial manager, Zoe joined Glasgow Prestwick Airport having spent more than 15 years working for UK PLC's operating in the FMCG sector. Whilst at Cadbury and PZ Cussons, Zoe held various senior positions within sales and marketing, developing the commercial strategy for large brands, delivering business critical projects and managing customer relationships. More recently Zoe worked for South Ayrshire Council, where she was part of a small team developing the Ayrshire Growth Deal proposition and, more broadly, the development of aerospace and space activities at Prestwick.