San Francisco International Airport will have a new director starting in early 2025.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed appointed Mike Nakornkhet on Tuesday to take on the role upon the retirement of current director Ivar Satero, according to a news release from the mayor’s office.
The announcement came ahead of what is expected to be a busy travel season.
“SFO is one of the most dynamic and important airports in our country, and its success is critical to San Francisco’s economic recovery,” Breed said.
“Mike has more than 25 years of aviation industry experience and I am confident his vision will help ensure SFO continues to be a leader. I would also like to thank Ivar Satero for his commitment to the city and to SFO. Under his direction SFO has received well-deserved national recognition, with a significant expansion including the opening of the new Harvey Milk Terminal and the launch of 26 new international airlines and 25 new international destinations,” Breed said.
Nakornkhet returns to SFO after a stint as Denver International Airport’s chief financial officer and executive vice president. Prior to his move to Denver, Nakornkhet worked at SFO for 13 years, including eight as its director of financial planning and analysis, and acting managing director of finance.
He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and a master’s degree in business administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, according to the mayor’s office.
“I am incredibly honored to be appointed as Airport Director of SFO by Mayor Breed and am humbled by the trust and confidence that she has placed in me to lead this extraordinary airport,” Nakornkhet said.
“I look forward to working with the world-class team at SFO, our partners in the aviation industry, and the community to bring about transformative changes and ensure SFO remains a world-class gateway serving San Francisco,” he said.
Leadership transition on a high note
Satero will retire after a career at SFO spanning more than four decades, including eight years as its director. He has overseen an $11 billion capital improvement plan at SFO, which was named this week as the best airport in North America by the publication Business Traveler magazine.
Satero offered his congratulations to his successor.
“Mike’s prior significant contributions to SFO along with his success in helping DEN forge a path for the future makes him an outstanding choice. I’m confident that under Mike’s leadership SFO will continue to pursue excellence in caring for our guests and achieve new heights with the support of our amazing SFO team,” Satero said.
SFO is expecting about 160,000 travelers to pass through the airport for the Thanksgiving holiday period and 6.3 million travelers between the Friday prior to Thanksgiving and New Year’s, according to a SFO news release.
It is the 12th-largest airport in the country, according to the mayor’s office.
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