RICHMOND, BC – After 13 years, Graham Clarke is stepping down as Chair of Vancouver Airport Authority effective June 10, 2010. Clarke, who has been a member of the Board of Directors since YVR became Canada’s first community-based airport authority in 1992, will continue as a director. The Airport Authority’s new Chair will be announced at its annual public meeting on May 13.

“While I’ve been on the Board since 1992, and Chair since 1997, my connection with YVR dates back to the 1980s,” said Clarke. “At the time, the Vancouver Board of Trade, together with other community groups and individuals, set out to turn YVR into a community-based airport, with management transferring from the federal government to our local airport authority. The results have been incredible. I think that by any measure, YVR has been a success, not just for British Columbia, but also for Canada. And that success was demonstrated most recently during the 2010 Winter Games.”

“Looking ahead, I believe that the Airport Authority, like all successful organizations, will always be a work in progress. For me, that constant striving to improve is at the core of our achievements. And it’s one of the reasons why it has always been an honour and a pleasure for me to serve our community and province as part of the airport family.”

Vancouver Airport Authority President and CEO, Larry Berg said Clarke’s leadership as Chair of the Board of Directors went a long way to keeping YVR closely connected to the community.

“As someone who was actively involved in creating the YVR we know today, Graham has always worked to make sure we stay true to our vision of being both a gateway and a local airport authority. Part of that vision is a pride in our province and in working with the community to be a significant contributor to British Columbia’s economy,” said Berg. “Under Graham’s leadership, we’ve made sure that YVR looks and feels like British Columbia from the moment you land and walk into our terminals.”

Clarke will continue to chair Vancouver Airport Services, a company owned jointly by Citi Infrastructure Investors and Vancouver Airport Authority. Currently, YVRAS manages a network of 18 airports around the world.

Graham Clarke is President and owner of the Clarke Group of Companies, which does business in the transportation, hospitality, marine and tourism sectors. Clarke has served as director or chair of numerous organizations and companies, including the Vancouver Board of Trade and Tourism Vancouver.