ExCo
Rob Bishton
Rob Bishton is the Chief Executive of the Civil Aviation Authority and has held the role since October 2023.
He became Chief Executive after serving as Interim Joint Chief Executive 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, including positions at Fastjet, Astraeus, and easyJet. A qualified commercial pilot, Rob has more than 10,000 flying hours on B787 and B737 aircraft.
He 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 joined the Civil Aviation Authority in 1998 following a career in the gas turbine industry.
He has held a number of management and leadership roles within the CAA, covering areas including propulsion, safety data, safety planning, personnel licensing, and oversight of approved training organisations. From November 2013 to November 2015, Ben led the CAA’s Performance-Based Regulation Programme – the transformation initiative to become a performance-based regulator.
In November 2015, Ben was appointed as the CAA’s first International Director. In 2023, he established 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.
Ben is also the Executive Committee 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.
Giancarlo Buono
Giancarlo Buono has been Group Director of Safety and Airspace Regulation and a Civil Aviation Authority Board member since January 2025.
A seasoned leader, Giancarlo's career spans both civil and military aviation. He joined the CAA from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), where he served as Regional Director for Safety and Flight Operations in Europe, working closely with international stakeholders to enhance operational safety and efficiency across the industry.
He holds a Master’s degree in Air Transport Management from City, University of London, and has completed an executive leadership programme at Harvard Law School.
Giancarlo 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.
Selina Chadha
Selina Chadha was appointed Group Director for Consumers & Markets and a member of the Civil Aviation Authority Board in August 2024.
Her role includes overseeing the Civil Aviation Authority’s economic regulation, competition, consumer protection, consumer enforcement activity, and the ATOL financial protection scheme.
Prior to joining the Civil Aviation Authority, Selina served as Director of Policy (Competition and Consumer) at Ofcom. Her time at Ofcom was marked by strategic leadership, a strong commitment to promoting investment and competition, and protecting consumers in the communications sector.
Peter Drissell
Peter Drissell was appointed by the Civil Aviation Authority as its first Director of Aviation Security in 2013 and led the transfer of operational aviation security functions from the Department for Transport (DfT) to the CAA on 1 April 2014.
Prior to this, Peter was Director of Security and Business Continuity at 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, he 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.
Peter was a Director of Plan UK, an international children’s charity, for 10 years and a trustee of City & Guilds until 2014. He remains on its governing council.
Tim Johnson
Tim Johnson is Director for Communication, Strategy and Policy (CSP) at the 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 Civil Aviation Authority Board.
Tracy Martin
Tracey Martin was appointed Chief Finance and Operating Officer and a member of the Civil Aviation Authority Board in September 2023.
She was initially appointed as Interim Chief Finance Officer in May 2023.
Tracey brings vast experience to the role, having previously held senior executive finance positions at Bristol Health, the Gambling Commission, NHS England, North Wales Police, and, more recently, the British Transport Police.
Tendai Mutambirwa
Tendai Mutambirwa is Head of Safety Operations at the 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 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 has been Director of People and Culture at the Civil Aviation Authority since April 2024 and is a member of the senior executive team.
She leads the delivery of the CAA’s people and culture strategy, bringing a wealth of experience in the field.
Before joining the CAA, Lucy spent 10 years at the Competition and Markets Authority, serving for the last six years as a member of the executive team and Board adviser on People and Culture.
Her earlier career included senior positions at the Care Quality Commission, Healthcare Commission, Save the Children, and the Metropolitan Police Service.
Jonathan Spence
Jonathan Spence, General Counsel and Company Secretary, joined the Civil Aviation Authority in January 2022.
His responsibilities include leading the in-house legal and enforcement teams, and the internal audit team, and ensuring that the CAA properly identifies and addresses legal risks. He is also a trustee of the UK’s Air Travel Trust.
Prior to joining the CAA, Jonathan was a Legal Director at the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, advising on public law, competition law, and regulation. He began his career in private practice, working for several leading competition law firms in the City.
Jonathan also attends the Civil Aviation Authority Board.
Matt Taylor
Dr Matt Taylor was appointed Chief Information Officer of the Civil Aviation Authority in 2018 and became a member of the Executive Committee in April 2024.
He is responsible for all aspects of technology provision to and by the Authority.
Following a brief academic career, Matt held various technology engineering and leadership roles in consultancy and financial services before joining the CAA in 2010. He has since held several positions across the organisation.