BAA Scotland has announced the appointment of a new managing director, following Richard Jeffrey's decision to leave the airport company later this year.

David Johnston, a 41-year old lighting industry executive from County Durham, will join Edinburgh Airport in the next few months, working closely with Richard Jeffrey before he leaves.

Richard Jeffrey, who has led Edinburgh Airport for nearly six years and is currently president of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: "I am enormously proud of Edinburgh Airport and the important role we play in the life of Scotland and its capital city.

"Having spent six great years at Edinburgh, the time is right for me to move on, particularly as my family and I are settled in Scotland and my career with BAA was unlikely to prove compatible with the life I enjoy here.

"I wish David Johnston the best of success in his new role, knowing that I leave an airport in good health, with an exciting and growing network of international routes and an infrastructure in which BAA has invested considerably."

Stephen Baxter, divisional managing director of BAA Scotland, said: "I will be sorry to lose Richard from my management team in Scotland, but he goes with our best wishes and understanding. Richard's legacy is a profitable and efficient airport, which has been transformed in recent years.

"At the same time, I am pleased to welcome David Johnston to Edinburgh Airport and look forward to working closely with him and the team at Edinburgh to deliver the exciting changes we have planned for Scotland's capital airport."

David Johnston is currently operations director for Thorn Lighting in Durham and has several years experience in the manufacturing sector. Commenting on his new role, he said: "Edinburgh Airport is a strong and fast-growing business and I am excited at the challenges that lie ahead.

"I am very much aware of the important role the airport plays in Scotland and look forward to working with our stakeholders to write the new chapters in Edinburgh Airport's undoubted success story."