daa, operator of Dublin and Cork airports, appoints John Coleman as chief executive

daa, the state-owned company that operates Dublin and Cork airports, has appointed John Coleman as its new chief executive, the company announced on 27 October 2026. He will take up the role early in the new year for a seven-year term.

Coleman has been chief executive of the Land Development Agency, the Irish state's affordable housing developer, since 2018. Before that he was chief financial officer at the National Asset Management Agency, which he joined in 2011 and where he held several senior roles. He is a chartered accountant and a graduate of University College Dublin.

The appointment reaches beyond Dublin and Cork: daa also owns the travel retailer Aer Rianta International and the consultancy and investment arm daa International, and has airport and travel retail interests in 15 countries. Chairman Gary Owens said the board was delighted that Coleman was joining after a comprehensive selection process, and said daa had delivered a record-breaking performance in 2026. The board also thanked Nick Cole, who has acted as deputy chief executive and as chief executive of daa International.

The announcement does not give an exact start date and does not describe any changes to airport operations. Passengers should continue to rely on Dublin and Cork airports' own information for their travel.