The Airport Operators Association (AOA) has appointed Henk van Klaveren as its new Public Affairs & PR Manager. Van Klaveren replaces PA & PR Director Tim Alderslade, who has moved to BATA as its new Chief Executive.
Van Klaveren has a strong track record in politics, public affairs and PR, and joins from public affairs agency Maitland Political, where he was a Senior Consultant. Previously he worked for the Whitehouse Consultancy as a Consultant, and between 2009 and 2013 he worked for the Liberal Democrats. Initially starting in Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg's office, he joined the party's Press Office following the 2010 general election, leading on the party's local election media strategy in 2012 and 2013. He returned to the party to run Clegg's diary during the 2015 general election.
Henk van Klaveren said: “The next few years are going to be crucial for the aviation industry and I look forward to joining the AOA to make the case for a successful and sustainable industry that is an integral part of the UK's economic and social fabric. In particular, I will support the industry in promoting sustainable growth for the sector and making the case to policy makers and influencers for making better use of existing capacity for all UK airports. Another important campaign is fairer levels of Air Passenger Duty, which is a major lever the UK Government can pull to boost the UK's economic development."
Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the AOA, commented:
“The Airport Operators Association is delighted to welcome Henk to the AOA team. He has a strong political, public affairs, PR and media background and a real passion for aviation, which will stand the AOA in good stead as it continues to lobby for lower aviation tax and a flourishing airport sector. Certainly, he joins at an interesting time, with summer 2016 seeing the Government’s impending response to the Airports Commission on delivering more airport capacity and also the DfT’s updating of its sector-wide Aviation Policy Framework in the second half of this year."
“I would also like to say thank you to Tim Alderslade, who leaves the AOA after three and a half great years. Tim has been a fantastic lobbyist for the sector and I, and the team here at AOA, wish him well in his new senior role at BATA. We also look forward to working with Tim on jointly furthering the interests of UK aviation in the future.”