Executive Management Team
Ian Forgie – Chief Executive Officer
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.
Juan Merrill – Finance Director
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 – Operations Director
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.
Having delivered significant operational improvements in the Fire Service and Operations, Jules’s areas of responsibility grew to encompass Passenger Handling, Ground Services, Motor Transport and Security.
Jules’s has taken up the post as Operations Director for the airport, which sees compliance, engineering, airfield operations and air traffic control all falling within his new remit.
Sonia Rafferty – Human Resources Director
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.
Zoe Kilpatrick – 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.
