NATS

Douglas Alexander has today announced the appointment of Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde and Andrew White as non-executive Partnership Directors on the board of NATS Holdings Limited, theUK's leading air traffic management provider.

In making the appointments, the Secretary of State said:

“I am delighted to have secured two such high-calibre individuals for the NATS board.  I know that Brenda Dean’s background in industrial relations and Andrew White’s experience leading the RAF’s air traffic control services will be extremely valuable to the business. 

“Brenda and Andrew will work with the board and management team to ensure that NATS’ excellent operational and financial performance continues, while upholding its fundamental objective to provide a safe air traffic control system inUK airspace.”

“I would also like to record my appreciation for the commitment and professionalism of both Bill Semple and Clive Brooke, who are retiring as Partnership Directors.  Both have made a significant contribution to NATS in their 5 years as Partnership Directors, and in Bill’s case in his long career at NATS beforehand.”

Notes to Editors

1. NATS provides air traffic services in UK and Oceanic airspace and at the majorUK airports, as well as related consultance and training services in the UK and overseas.  NATS Holdings Ltd is the holding company for the NATS Group.  The Airline Group Ltd, a consortium of seven airlines, has the majority of voting rights and 41.9% of the shares.  The Secretary of State for Transport owns 48.9% of the share capital, BAA plc 4.2% and NATS Employee Sharetrust Ltd the remaining 5%. 
   
   
2. NATS is governed by a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the Secretary of State, the Airline Group and BAA.  Under the terms of the SPA, the Secretary of State has the right to appoint up to three non-executive Partnership Directors to the NATS board.  These are currently Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe and Bill Semple, both of whom’s second terms of office expire on 25 July 2006, and Stephen Pettit, whose second term of office expires on 25 July 2007.
   
   
3. Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde is Chair of Covent Garden Market Authority and a non-executive director of Dawson Holdings Ltd and George Wimpey Plc.  She was previously Chair of the Freedom to Fly Coalition, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and the Housing Corporation, and General Secretary of the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades.  Brenda was created a life peer in 1993 and sits in the Labour benches in the House of Lords.  She is a member of the House of Lords Appointments commission. Brenda will chair the NATS Employee Sharetrust.
   
   
4. Air Vice Marshal Andrew White spent his career in the RAF, most recently having responsibility for managing all military air traffic control in the UK and being a member of Strike Command Management Board.  He is President of the RAF Powered Flying Association.  Andrew will chair NATS’ Safety Review Committee.
   
   
5. Both appointments will be effective from 26 July 2006 and are for a period of three years.
   
   
6. Although these appointments do not come within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, they have been made using a process which takes into account the Commissioner’s Code of Practice as best practice.