Meet The Executive Team

Archie Garden

Airport Director

Archie Garden was appointed airport director of the renamed Cambridge Airport in January 2011, with a specific remit to make the airport more attractive as a commercial hub for business, commercial and general aviation. Previously Archie spent many years in the financial services industry. He has been involved in a wide range of business structures including non-executive director on offshore special purpose vehicles to complex structures responsible for assets in excess of €10 billion. Archie has mentored executives and coached staff, with a focus on supporting individuals wishing to pursue careers in business development. He also served as managing director of various fund administration entities for two banks in Jersey, prior to building and leading cross-functional multi-cultural teams to re-engineer and restructure businesses for a large UK bank. Archie describes himself as a citizen of the world. He was born in Zambia, raised in South Africa and then worked in Canada; France; Germany; the UK and the Channel Islands. Archie is an instrument rated private pilot.

Richard Knight

Airport Manager

Richard Knight joined Cambridge Airport in May 2011 after completing over 20 years in the Royal Air Force. He is responsible for all facets of the airport’s operational infrastructure including security, fire, fuel, ramp, emergency planning and general airport operations. Richard has had a wide and varied career in the military seeing him deployed worldwide and leading teams, both in the air as a Tornado F3 navigator and on the ground as the Commanding Officer of Mount Pleasant Airfield in the Falkland Islands. With experience working with the top levels of government on procurement and national security matters Richard has worked in a real mix of environments. Richard holds an MBA from Bath University and was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his leadership and team's achievements during his time spent in the Falkland Islands. Richard is married to Jacqueline with 3 children and with what spare time he gets he likes to get outside and run, cycle and travel.

Mark Morgan

Air Traffic Services Manager

Mark Morgan started his career in Air Traffic Control with the RAF, including tours in Station and Fighter Squadron Operations departments. On leaving the RAF he joined Marshall Aerospace in Air Traffic Control. Mark has since furthered his career with promotion to Training Officer and ATC Examiner. His current post is as the Manager Air Traffic Services where he also oversees a team of Air Traffic Controller Officers, ATS Assistants and AT Engineers.

David Surley

Senior Business Development Manager

David embarked on his aviation career with British Airways in sales, in Newcastle, while completing a BA Hons degree in Business Studies, Travel & Tourism Management. Joined leading student/youth travel retailer STA Travel as Air Product Manager before returning to the airline sector to manage ANA (All Nippon Airways) European marketing strategy, travelling extensively across Japan and Asia as well as working in the US market developing the brand of Asia’s largest carrier. With ANA joining Star Alliance, developed inter-airline relationships with member carriers worldwide and managed loyalty marketing projects for the Alliance before gaining additional experience in airline IT system infrastructure and later joining Indian Ocean carrier, Air Mauritius, as Sales & Marketing Manager, growing the airline’s UK operation to a daily service. In 2008, David joined London Oxford Airport to open and develop their award-winning Oxfordjet executive aviation and handling facility, which quickly grew to undertake handling for all airport movements including charter airline traffic. With extensive market positioning effort, Oxford secured regular airline services to Geneva in winter, to Jersey in summer and a respected conference and bespoke charter operation. Here at Cambridge, David will be making the most of the airport’s superb infrastructure and enviable location and accessibility to target regional airline opportunities such as charter holiday services, conference, cruise and bespoke charters, regional high frequency scheduled airline operations and aim to put Cambridge firmly on the UK commercial aviation map.

Jon Harper

Business Development Manager

Jon Harper was recently promoted to the role of Business Development Manager after working in Air Traffic Control at Cambridge Airport for the past 12 years. He is responsible for delivering new business aviation clients and maintaining relationships with existing clients. Jon’s career started as an Assistant Air Traffic Controller in the RAF, covering many aspects of the role including Wing Operations, Squadron Operation, Bird Control, Tactical Booking and of course Air Traffic Control. In his career in the military Jon has travelled extensively around the world, being based in the UK, Germany, Sardinia, Canada and the Falkland Islands. Jon started his RAF career at the age of 16 and he left after 13 years, where he reached the rank of Corporal. Jon’s role in ATC at Cambridge Airport included training and auditing staff in Met Observations, responsible for carrying out Friction Testing in accordance with CAA guidelines and training the Air Traffic Service Assistants. Jon is also currently the FOD*BOSS Franchise Manage for the UK and Republic of Ireland.