Denver International Airport Announces Two Executive Appointments

DENVER — Dec. 16, 2014 — Denver International Airport (DIA) today announced the appointment of two new executive vice presidents (EVPs). Ken Greene has been selected as the new Chief Operating Officer EVP who will lead the business unit that includes Airport Infrastructure Management, Technologies, Airport Operations, the Hotel and Transit Center and Special Projects. Bhavesh A. Patel has been selected the airport’s new Chief Revenue Officer EVP in charge of the Commercial, Concessions and DEN Real Estate business unit.

Greene has been with DIA since 2009, when he was named senior advisor to DIA CEO Kim Day and was later promoted as the deputy manager for maintenance. In November 2011, Greene assumed the role of deputy manager for airport operations. Under his leadership, DIA has implemented a number of strategic projects that include the rollout of the Federal Aviation Administration’s NextGen technology, and the implementation of the Aerobahn airfield surface management and deicing systems. Greene also worked closely with the airport’s federal partners to begin using automated passport control kiosks and initiate the Global Entry program in the custom’s hall, as well as the establishment of the TSA Pre✓program at DIA.

During his 32-year career, Greene has worked in both public and private sector organizations, and has held several positions primarily in the transportation and food logistics industries. Among these positions was assistant director for operations in the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s Department of Aviation. That agency manages the six airport system in the New York/New Jersey region that includes LaGuardia, Kennedy, Newark Liberty, and Teterboro Airports. Greene has a Bachelor’s degree from Boston University, and an MBA from Pace University in New York City.

Patel comes to DIA from Tampa International Airport (TPA) where he currently serves as the director of airport concessions. He has more than 19 years of experience that brings together airport, airline, public, and private sector aviation experience. At TPA, he led the team responsible for implementing the Airport Concessions Redevelopment Program, which is projected to grow airport concessions revenue by nearly 50 percent in five years. He also developed and implemented the airport’s largest outreach program, designed to connect contractors, banks, prime operators, and local, minority-owned and women-owned businesses. Patel implemented a concession revenue enhancement program working with the existing tenants with no term extensions or rent considerations to re-concept, remodel, and new store openings resulting in approximately $12.5 million increase in incremental gross sales. He was also responsible for the development and execution of the business plan for the Consolidated Rental Car Center, the first for TPA, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.

Prior to joining TPA, Patel served as the manager of the concession development program at San Diego International Airport and he worked for the aviation consultancy firm SH&E/CAM, where he specialized in concession planning, revenue optimization and financial forecasting, modeling and analysis. Earlier in his career, he held various positions at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, General Electric Engine Services, Northwest Airlines, Tucson Airport Authority and the City of Phoenix’s Aviation Department. Patel has a Bachelor of Science degree in aviation business administration from EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University.

“Over the last five years Ken Greene has become an invaluable member of the leadership team at Denver International Airport and helped implement many of our strategic objectives and innovative programs,” Day said. “I’m also pleased to welcome Bhavesh Patel to the executive team at DIA, where he will oversee our thriving concessions and commercial programs as well as our efforts to develop Colorado’s own aerotropolis and help us take these programs to the next level.”

Greene will assume his new role beginning Jan. 1, 2015 and Patel will begin work at DIA on Jan. 20, 2015.

Denver voters in 2013 approved Question 2B, which allows DIA to create up to five executive level positions to be appointed by the DIA CEO, that serve at will. Greene and Patel are the first to be appointed under the new provision.

Denver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. DEN is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating more than $36 billion for the region annually. For more information visit www.FlyDenver.com, check us out on YouTube and Instagram, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Sign up for DEN’s monthly newsletter Nonstop News.

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