Alex Bristol, CEO, skyguide, has been appointed Chair of the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) for a three-year term.

The appointment was announced immediately after CANSO’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Madrid. Alex, who currently serves as CEO of skyguide, has a wealth of experience in the aviation sector spanning three decades.

Alex Bristol said: I am honoured to have been selected as chair of the CANSO Executive Committee at this crucial period for the ATM industry. Our industry faces some considerable challenges not least tackling climate change and opening our skies to new airspace users. I relish the opportunity to work with industry leaders from across the globe to collectively tackle these issues.”

Alex started his career as an air traffic controller in 1992 at UK air traffic provider NATS, before taking leadership roles which included General Manager at Farnborough and Manchester Airports, Director Strategy and Investment and Director International Affairs.

Alex moved to Switzerland in July 2011 to take up the role of Chief Operating Officer at the Swiss air navigation provider skyguide. He was appointed CEO skyguide on 1 July 2017. For the past three years, Alex had served as a Member at Large on the CANSO Executive Committee. 

Other key appointments announced at CANSO’s AGM include Mohammed Moussa, Director General, ASECNA and Dr. Pham Viet Dung, Chairman, VATM who have been appointed CANSO Executive Committee Members at Large.

Simon Hocquard, Director General of CANSO, said: “I would like to  congratulate Alex, Mohammed and Dr Pham on their appointments. Such strong leadership will ensure our industry continues to raise the bar on performance and successfully charts its way to a brighter future.”