Cardiff Airport has named Jon Bridge as its new chief executive.
The former Brains CEO will start his new role next month, following the departure of Spencer Birns in March.
The Welsh Government-owned airport at Rhoose has faced scrutiny over its post-Covid recovery - with plans for a £205 million subsidy to boost passenger numbers facing legal action from Bristol Airport.
Cardiff Airport bosses say Mr Bridge, who stepped down at St Brain & Co last December, steered the brewery firm through "major transformation and unprecedented challenges" in the wake of the pandemic.
His career spans three decades across retail, hospitality and transport - and since March, he's been acting at board level in an advisory capacity within the Welsh transport sector.
Mr Bridge said: "I’m honoured to be joining Cardiff Airport at such a pivotal time."
"The National Airport of Wales is a vital asset for our country, providing economic benefits, jobs and ensures global connectivity. We are striving to be the first choice for airline passengers and the centre of Wales’ aviation related industry."
"I’ll be working hard with our team and partners to continue the process of diversifying the business, driving growth, developing our people and ensuring we continue to provide an excellent experience for our customers."
Andy Jones, who has been the airport's interim chief executive since March, will return to his former role as a non-executive director.
Shortly before he resigned, Spencer Birns said the airport it had welcomed 881,000 passengers through its terminal during 2024 - up by 5% on the year before, although still down on an annual figure of 1.6 million passengers prior to Covid.
The Hungarian budget airline WizzAir launched regular flights from Cardiff in April 2022, but they withdrew after less than a year, blaming financial difficulties.
A year ago, the airport sought to diversify its business when European Cargo between regular freight services between China and Wales, creating 30 jobs.
So far in 2025, the airport has added a new winter ski route to Salzburg and extra weekly flights to Malaga with Tui preparing to launch extra routes to Egypt, Portugal and the Canary Islands next summer.
But in July, Bristol Airport chiefs confirmed they would challenge the Welsh Government's proposals for a subsidy package, which according to ministers, would provide "the financial resources necessary to create new jobs by focusing on aircraft maintenance, repair & overhaul (MRO), air cargo, general aviation and sustainable aviation technologies."
A Bristol Airport spokesperson told Bro Radio News that ministers had "failed to respond to repeated requests for more information and to engage meaningfully with us and other stakeholders for many months."
Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans later confirmed the Welsh Government would defend the legal challenge.
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