Lester Nelson
As the first Chief Executive Officer of the Bermuda Airport Authority, Mr. Nelson leads a team of aviation and weather professionals who provide a broad range of air navigation and weather services. These essential services connect Bermuda to the world, and they include air traffic control, air traffic engineering and aviation and public weather services. Mr. Nelson and the Authority team also oversee the operator of the L.F. Wade International Airport, Bermuda Skyport Corporation Limited, and their 30-year concession agreement with the Authority.
Under Mr. Nelson’s leadership, the Authority developed the capacity to carry out its mandate through insourcing, professional recruitment, and training and development. He led the Authority’s oversight of a $400 million airport redevelopment project including a state-of-the-art, 288,000 sq. ft., award-winning passenger terminal, which opened in December 2020 during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Lester also leads the Authority’s air service development initiatives in coordination with the Bermuda Ministry of Transport, Skyport and the Bermuda Tourism Authority. This involves frequent engagement and collaboration with airlines providing air service to Bermuda.
Lester is a passionate aviation professional with over 30 years of experience. His experience includes airport management and business management, and he has been a certificated commercial pilot for almost 40 years. He has held positions as Manager, Air Operations and acting General Manager of the former operator of the LFWIA, the Department of Airport Operations. Lester has also held positions as Business Relationship Manager at HSBC Bermuda and Business Manager at Bermuda Hospital’s Board. Lester is an active commercial pilot of a Bermuda-registered general aviation aircraft, which he pilots around Bermuda.
Mr. Nelson earned a Master of Business Administration from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
