Sydney Airport boss Geoff Culbert will step down after six years at the helm at the end of this year, unlocking a global search for his replacement.
During his tenure, Culbert oversaw the restructure of the airport during the COVID-19 pandemic, managed one of the biggest privatisations of a public company in Australian history, and led the business through its passenger recovery after the end of pandemic restrictions.
Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert will leave at the end of the year.Credit: Brook Mitchell
Culbert said he felt it was time to step down at the end of 2023, now that the airport was close to fully recovered from the COVID-19-induced grounding two years ago. The airport’s traffic figures currently hover just below 85 per cent of its pre-pandemic averages, with 3 million passengers last month.
“It’s been a privilege to have led Australia’s premier domestic and international airport since 2018, and to work with such a wonderful team through a unique and challenging period in the airport’s history,” Culbert said.
Culbert navigated the airport through its 2022 delisting following a $23.6 billion takeover bid from a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and IFM Investors.
Culbert told staff in an email seen by this masthead that it was a “tough call” to resign and he had no new role lined up.
“It’s time for me to take a breath,” he said in the email.
“The passenger recovery is really taking hold and our operational resilience is back to where it should be. The airport is really starting to buzz and by the end of this year we should be very close to being fully recovered.”
Sydney Airport chair David Gonski credited Culbert with leading the airport through the most disruptive period in aviation history.
“This includes managing the airport through the pandemic when traffic was devastated by border closures, the recent rapid recovery, and dealing with the largest take-private transaction in Australian corporate history.”
“As a leader, Geoff also built an outstanding team and culture that will endure long after he departs. We are pleased that Geoff will be staying on until the end of the year to give us the opportunity to conduct a global search and facilitate a smooth transition to a new CEO,” Gonski said.
Culbert joined Sydney Airport as chief executive in 2018 after more than 15 years in senior positions at General Electric. He has not indicated whether he will explore other opportunities when he officially steps down from his position at the end of this year.
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