Airport Experience® News - Post-Conference Issue 2024

DIRECTOR’S CHAIR

MEM REINVENTION CEO Terry Blue Is Steering The Next Phase of Development For Memphis International Airport

BY CAROL WARD

ver the past decade, Memphis International Airport (MEM) has meticulously rebuilt its presence,

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transitioning from a hub airport to an origin and-destination facility. One of the largest cargo hubs in the world, MEM is now settling comfortably in the small/medium sector of passenger airports in the United States. Longtime CEO Scott Brockman, who led the airport through its tumultuous post-hub reinvention, retired at the end of last year, and former COO Terry Blue took the helm at the start of 2024. Now as CEO, Blue is taking on the next phase of redevelopment – a terminal upgrade – while witnessing growing passenger demand. AXN’s Carol Ward spoke with Blue about his vision for MEM going forward. WARD: You were tapped to take on the leadership role at MEM about a year ago as longtime director Scott Brockman was preparing to retire. Now you’re steering the ship on your own. Can you share your experiences during the transition? Tell me about that transition and how it’s gone so far. BLUE: Scott is a planner’s planner, and he had his own personal timeline in mind. He was working with the board on a transition plan that was going to take X amount of time, whether it was an internal candidate or an external candidate, there would be a certain amount of time needed for a handoff. The board put me through a process to make sure that they believed that I was the right candidate, and fortunately they did.

Left: Terry Blue, president and CEO, Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority, which oversees Memphis International Airport.

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AX NEWS APRIL/MAY 2024