ExCo
Rob Bishton
Rob Bishton is the Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority and has held the role since October 2023.
Rob became Chief Executive after holding the Interim Joint CEO position between April and October 2023.
Appointed to the Board as Group Director of Safety and Airspace Regulation in November 2019, Rob has been at the CAA since 2014, and previously held the role of Head of Flight Operations.
He has extensive experience in the aviation industry having held Board level roles at several airlines, as well as having been Chief Pilot of easyJet. Rob remains a qualified Airline Transport Pilot with more than 10,000 commercial flying hours on Boeing and Airbus aircraft alongside his private Helicopter flying experience.
Rob has also represented the UK at the EASA Management Board and was formerly a Non-Executive Director of the UK Flight Safety Committee.
Ben Alcott
Ben Alcott is the Director of the Professional Services Group at the UK Civil Aviation Authority and was appointed the CAA’s first International Director in November 2015.
Having joined the CAA in 1998, Ben has held a number of management and leadership roles, covering areas from propulsion, safety data and safety planning, to personnel licensing and oversight of approved training organisations. In 2023 Ben created the Professional Services Group, bringing together CAA International Limited (where he chairs the Board), the CAA’s Shared Service Centre, and other service-oriented teams.
From November 2013 to November 2015, Ben led the CAA’s Performance-Based Regulation Programme – the CAA’s transformation initiative to become a performance-based regulator.
Ben is also the ExCo sponsor for the CAA’s Customer Experience and Modernisation Programme, a director of the CAA’s subsidiary Air Safety Support International, and Chair of the CAA’s Wellbeing Board.
Prior to joining the CAA, Ben pursued a career in the gas turbine industry.
Ben holds a BEng(Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from Kingston University, an MSc in Thermal Power from Cranfield University, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Organisational Leadership from Oxford University. He is a Member of the Institute of Regulation.
Giancarlo Buono
Giancarlo Buono joined the UK Civil Aviation Authority in January 2025 and is the Group Director of Safety and Airspace Regulation and a member of the Board.
A seasoned leader, Giancarlo's career encompasses both civil and military aviation. Prior to the CAA he served as Regional Director for Safety and Flight Operations in Europe for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), working closely with international stakeholders to enhance operational safety and efficiency across the industry.
He started as an officer and pilot in the Air Force before transitioning to commercial aviation, where he held several senior positions prior to joining IATA. He is a qualified Airlines Transport pilot with more than 8500 flying hours on different types of military and commercial aircraft.
Giancarlo holds a Master’s degree in Air Transport Management from City St. George’s, University of London, and has completed an executive leadership programme at Harvard University Law School. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Selina Chadha
Selina Chadha joined the UK Civil Aviation Authority in August 2024 and is the Group Director for Consumers and Markets and a member of the Board.
Selina’s role includes overseeing the CAA’s economic regulation, economics function and competition, consumer protection and consumer enforcement activities, as well as the ATOL financial protection scheme.
Prior to joining the CAA, Selina was Director of Policy (Competition and Consumer) at the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Her time at Ofcom was focused on promoting investment and competition, and protecting consumers in the communications sectors.
Selina is a Trustee of the UK’s Air Travel Trust.
Peter Drissell
Peter Drissell was appointed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority as its first Director of Aviation Security in 2013 and led the transition of operational aviation security functions from the Department for Transport (DfT) to the CAA on 1 April 2014.
to his appointment, Peter was Director of Security and Business Continuity for the Home Office, where he also served as HR Diversity Champion. Before joining the Civil Service, Peter had a 32-year career in the Royal Air Force, retiring as an Air Commodore in April 2007.
During his RAF career, Peter held a number of operational and staff appointments in the UK and overseas. His final posting combined the roles of Commandant General of the Royal Air Force Regiment and Air Officer RAF Police, following a year as Provost Marshal for the RAF.
For 10 years, Peter was a Director of Plan UK, an international children’s charity, and until 2013 had been a trustee of City and Guilds; he remains on its governing council.
In April 2024, Peter was appointed Honorary Air Commodore of No 2624 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force, based at RAF Brize Norton.
Tim Johnson
Tim Johnson is Director for Communication, Strategy and Policy (CSP) at the UK Civil Aviation Authority and, as of March 2024, also serves as Chief of Staff, overseeing the function of the Chair and Chief Executive’s Office.
As Director of CSP, Tim is responsible for driving forward the regulator’s approach to major policy issues, including innovation, airspace modernisation, and consumer policy.
He joined the CAA in January 2014, having previously worked at NATS as Head of Strategy and subsequently Head of Regulation.
Earlier in his career, Tim held roles in Government, including at HM Treasury, the Shareholder Executive, and the Ministry of Defence.
Tim also attends the CAA Board.
Tracy Martin
Tracey Martin joined the UK Civil Aviation Authority in May 2023 as Chief Financial Officer and was appointed to the Board on 20 September 2023.
Tracey became Chief Financial and Operations Officer in April 2024, assuming responsibility for Corporate Enabling Services and supporting the CAA to deliver its strategy.
Tracey brings her vast experience to the role, having previously held executive finance and business positions across a number of sectors including Defence, Health, Regulation and Policing operating in complex and political environments. Her experience spans business transformation, strategic development and financial strategy to create value and improve service and customer outcomes.
Tracey is a Trustee of the UK’s Air Travel Trust.
Tendai Mutambirwa
Tendai Mutambirwa is Director of Safety Operations at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, having joined the organisation in April 2023.
He is responsible for the effectiveness of safety oversight and monitoring functions across Flight Operations, Airworthiness, Medical, General Aviation, Airspace, Air Traffic Management, Aerodromes, Space, and Safety Assurance.
Before joining the CAA, Tendai was Director of Safety, Security and Compliance at Flybe Limited. His previous roles include Senior Vice President of Quality, Health, Safety and Environment at Rolls-Royce; Head of Safety, Security and Compliance at easyJet; and Europe Regional Quality and Safety Manager at Boeing.
Tendai has a multidisciplinary technical background, specialising in quality and safety transformation, management systems, compliance monitoring, risk and crisis management, and safety investigation. He holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Hertfordshire, with further qualifications from Cranfield University and the British Standards Institute.
Sophie O’Sullivan
Sophie O’Sullivan is Director, Future Safety & Innovation at the UK Civil Aviation Authority and a member of the senior executive team.
She leads the CAA’s Future of Flight Programme and the Future Safety and Innovation team.
Sophie joined the CAA in 2016 to lead the Corporate Strategy, Risk and Better Regulation function. In 2018, she moved into the Safety and Airspace Regulation Group to establish the RPAS Unit. In 2020, she merged this with General Aviation to form the RPAS and GA Unit. In 2023, she was appointed to lead the newly created Future Safety and Innovation team, establishing the Future of Flight Programme, which she now directs. In 2024, Sophie became a permanent member of the CAA Executive Committee.
She has extensive experience in technology, innovation and strategy. Prior to joining the CAA, Sophie spent a decade in the technology sector at Microsoft and IBM, in roles spanning strategy, consultancy, and team leadership across the UK and Europe.
Lucy Robbins
Lucy Robbins was appointed in April 2024 and is Director of People and Culture at the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
A member of the senior executive team, Lucy leads on the delivery of the CAA’s people and culture strategy and brings a wealth of people and culture experience to the organisation.
Prior to joining the CAA, Lucy spent 10 years at the Competition and Markets Authority, the last six years of which were as the executive team member and Board adviser for People and Culture.
Her earlier career included senior posts at the Care Quality Commission, Healthcare Commission, Save the Children, and the Metropolitan Police Service.
Jonathan Spence
Jonathan Spence joined the UK Civil Aviation Authority in January 2022 and is General Counsel and Company Secretary. He attends the Board and the CAA Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.
His responsibilities include leading the in-house legal and criminal enforcement teams, internal audit team and ensuring that the CAA properly identifies and addresses legal risks.
Prior to joining the CAA, Jonathan was a Legal Director at the Office for Gas and Electricity Markets, advising on public law, competition law, and regulation. Jonathan started his career in private practice working for several leading competition law practices in the city.
Jonathan is a trustee of the UK’s Air Travel Trust.