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Photo Courtesy GPA (Image Credit: Photo Courtesy GPA)
By Tanner Smith
Airport

GPA new CEO begins role in August

Jul 7, 2026 | 11:23 AM

The Grande Prairie Airport has named a new CEO.

Andrew O’Brian will assume the role as of Aug. 4.

O’Brian will be drawing from his 20 years of experience in senior executive roles with several international aviation organizations, as he takes on the role:

Founder of Centerline Airport Partners, a Vancouver-based airport infrastructure and concession development platform, Chief Executive Officer of Reach Airports in Washington, D.C., and President and Chief Executive Officer of Quiport Corporation, operator of Quito International Airport in South America.

During his tenure there, O’Brian grew Quito International Airport to serve more than five million passengers and 250,000 metric tons of cargo annually, earning Skytrax 5-Star Airport certification and multiple World Travel Awards as South America’s Leading Airport.

At Reach Airports, a joint venture between Munich Airport International and The Carlyle Group’s airport investment platform, O’Brian led the company’s airport operations and consulting services across the North American market, including work supporting the transformation of New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport through the New Terminal One redevelopment program.

His career also includes serving as Chief Executive Officer of Aerodom, a six-airport network in the Dominican Republic serving more than four million passengers annually. The airports were operated by Vancouver Airport Services, now Vantage Airport Group, and owned by Advent, a U.S.-based private equity firm.

O’Brian also has ties to the Peace region dating back to his time in the forest industry and holds a Master’s in Business Administration in Aviation from Concordia University in Edmonton.

Bobbi Dawson, Chair of the GPA commission, welcomed O’Brain, saying “his operational background and experience working with airport partners, local businesses, governments and airlines will support the airport’s priorities as we continue to strengthen regional connectivity, economic development and long term growth for Grande Prairie and the broader Peace Region.”

The GPA added that they look forward to his leadership as they advance their role as a local transportation and economic asset.

GPA CEO Andrew O'Brian
GPA CEO Andrew O’Brian (Image Credit: Photo Courtesy GPA)
by Tanner Smith