Vancouver airport CEO calls it quits
Larry Berg lauded for leading YVR to new heights, including title as best airport in North America
The man who piloted Vancouver’s airport for 15 years is stepping down next year.
Larry Berg announced his retirement Wednesday. He will remain in the position until early next year, when a successor is chosen.
“Larry has been a part of the airport authority and its successes since the very beginning,” said chair Mary Jordan in a release.
“With his exceptional leadership both at Vancouver International Airport tend in the community, Larry has been at the forefront of great accomplishments, such as the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Canada Line and, of course, in making YVR one of the best airports in the world.”
Berg joined the airport authority as vicepresident of human resources in 1992, and became CEO six years later.
Under his tenure, the airport earned numerous international awards and accolades — including best airport in North America in 2010 and 2011 in the Skytrax World Airport Awards.
Berg was lauded for his leadership and innovation and was awarded best director of the year in the medium-small airports category in 2005 by Airport Revenue News.
He is also on the board of directors of Vantage Airport Group, a subsidiary of the authority, which provides airport management services to 12 airports in five countries.
The Vancouver airport was an early adopter of the so-called airport improvement fee, a model eventually followed by airports across the country.
Passengers grumbled about the fee, but Vancouver’s airport went on to diversify the services it offers — from well-known food outlets to shops and a notable collection of West Coast aboriginal art.
Berg credited his colleagues’ contribution to making the airport a success.
“Whether it’s new terminals, runways, retail or the completion of the Canada Line, this airport and its people have built something every British Columbian can be proud of, and there’s plenty more to come,” he said in a release.
The board will conduct an international search to fill the CEO position. It expects the search to be completed by the end of March next year.
The Vancouver airport is Canada’s second busiest, after Toronto’s airport, and served 17 million passengers in 2011 through 63 airlines.