More than seven months after the former chief financial officer of Denver International Airport resigned, Sylvester Lavender from the Birmingham Airport Authority is stepping up to fill the position.

Lavender is set to begin his role as CFO on March 30, along with Mike Nakornkhet and Chayot Ing-aram who are joining DIA as deputy CFO and senior vice president for financial planning, respectively.

“We are delighted to welcome these three experienced and talented finance professionals,” said DIA CEO Kim Day. “They will ensure we maintain (DIA’s) strong financial position while we navigate our recovery from the pandemic.”

At the Birmingham Airport Authority, Lavender helped operate the Shuttlesworth Airport in Birmingham, Alabama, serving as interim CEO and directing the finance, parking and concession departments.

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In these positions, Lavender managed a $201-million terminal modernization project and a multimillion-dollar rental car facility project, creating an airport vehicle charging station and compressed natural gas station.

Lavender has also worked as a financial consultant for the Columbus Airport Commission, vice president of finance and accounting for Markstein Consulting and as a financial officer for UAB Hospital.

Lavender is replacing former DIA CFO Gisela Shanahan. Shanahan was named CFO in May 2015 and resigned in August 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to spend more time with her family, airport officials said.

As CFO, Shanahan led the financial and strategic management of DIA’s capital program and operating budget with annual revenues of about $900 million — a responsibility that will now fall to Lavender.

The role also includes leading the airport’s finance, accounting, business management services, internal audit and financial planning and analysis functions.

Lavender is stepping into the CFO position during a difficult time for DIA as the airport struggles through the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, passenger traffic at DIA dropped by over 50%, a level not seen since 1997, according to a release. 

However, DIA was still one of the top three busiest airport in the country last year. Day said the airport “is positioned well financially and has a strong domestic network that will help us continue our recovery.”

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The new Deputy CFO Nakornkhet brings 20 years of experience in the aviation sector, previously serving as the acting managing director of finance at the San Francisco International Airport.

Nakornkhet has also worked for United Airlines, Northwest Airlines and United Technologies Corporation.

Ing-aram, the new senior vice president for financial planning, comes from the Los Angeles World Airports where he worked as the budget and financial analysis section manager.

Prior to that, Ing-aram was the director of financial and portfolio management of the Commercial Development Group at LAWA.