Airport security chief was humble duty-free store detective

Meteoric rise of woman in charge of Britain's biggest terror
target ... as third day of Terminal 5 delays thousands.

Mail on Sunday 30/3/208

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/...n_page_id=1770

Airport security chief was humble duty-free store detective (... and
guess what, she lives with crisis-hit Heathrow's managing director)

It was she who gave the order to ban liquids on flights to/from the
UK.

THE woman in charge of security at Heathrow - Britain's biggest single
terrorist target - was a store detective at the airport's duty-free
shops just six years ago.

Donna Boote, 37, is now not only in charge of thousands of security
staff, but also shares a £1.2 million home with Heathrow's managing
director Mark Bullock - the man with overall responsibility for last
week's disastrous opening of Terminal 5.

Yesterday, the airport's authorities refused to answer questions about
the couple's relationship, whether they are married, or confirm any
details of Ms Boote's career path.

However, in the light of the chaos at the £4.3 billion fifth terminal-
which has seen thousands of passengers forced to abandon their bags
and hundreds of flights cancelled - the security chief's rapid
promotion and her relationship with Heathrow's MD must raise questions
about Spanish-owned BAA's suitability to run Britain's biggest
airport.

Ms Boote, a 37-year-old mother of two, was formerly in the Military
Police, which she joined aged 17, and eventually became a sergeant in
the Special Investigations Branch. But she quit the Army in 2000,
claiming she was forced to leave after becoming a mother for the
second time.

She later successfully sued the Ministry of Defence for sex
discrimination.

In 2002, Ms Boote began working at Heathrow, starting out as a store
detective in the duty-free area.

A former colleague said: 'She was one of two full-time BM staff
working on loss prevention at the World Duty Free stores to minimise
theft by staff or passengers. This involved her working undercover on
the shop floor, monitoring CCTV cameras and supervising agency
staff.'

Ms Boote later transferred to the small team helping oversee security
of a duty-free bonded warehouse off the airport complex, where her
boss was a former military police major.

Yesterday, BAA refused to give a full breakdown of her career path but
confirmed that after six years Miss Boote had risen to the post of
head of airport security at Heathrow.

The Mail on Sunday understands that she was given the job by
Heathrow's former managing director in late 2005.

Her rapid rise surprised other aviation security experts.

Despite having no civilian policing, counter-terrorism or intelligence
ser¬vice experience, she became chief in the face of stiff competition
from senior retired Army and police officers who were interviewed for
the job. Ms Boote now has legal responsibility at Heathrow for
compliance with the National Aviation Security Programme, which sets
strict standards for screening people at airports to prevent
hijackings and terrorism.

Her role also includes liaison with the Home Office, senior Government
Ministers, the police and MI5.

And last year it was Ms Boote who issued the BAA security notice
banning liquids on flights after MI5 exposed an alleged plot to blow
up transatlantic jets using explosives disguised as soft drinks.

At the time she said: 'BAA has long been a world leader in airport
security. We intend to retain that position. Heathrow is working hard
to make sure that the airport continues to be secure for our
passengers.'

Since 2006, Ms Boote has lived with Heathrow managing director Mr
Bullock at his newly-built £1.2 million home in Ascot, Berkshire.

Some neighbours on the private estate said they married last year.

Mr Bullock, 44, an accountant who previously worked for a large
distri¬bution company and electricity suppliers EDF, joined Heathrow
in 2004 to oversee the design and building of Terminal 5. A fitness
fanatic, he describes his interests as rowing, running, skiing, wake
boarding, motoring, rugby, music and reading.

According to his BAA profile, he is accountable for 'assuring cost,
time, quality and safety' and 'directly responsible for finance,
commercial and risk management'.

He had ultimate responsibility for the new Terminal 5 opening on time
and is accountable for its 'operational success'. In 2006, he was made
managing director of the whole of Heathrow.

Mr Bullock explained his overall approach on the airport's web site
with the words: 'If we are to be successful we need to build a
business which provides a predictably good experience for passengers.

'Not just some days, but 365 days a year. This is the hugely important
job that all of us who work at the airport have and one I am committed
to.

'It is true that we are now operating in a different market due to a
number of external factors, such as our change of ownership, the
global ter¬ror threat and the issue of climate change. These things
will require us to be more commercial, delivering value for money and
great service.'

Ms Boote was previously married to fellow Red Cap John Boote but the
pair split around the time of her tribunal against the Army.

The hearing was told how her dispute with the military centred on a
document she was required to sign, which was a condition of service.
It contained a clause requiring her to be deployed overseas at short
notice at the same time as her soldier husband.

Ms Boote, who had served in Saudi Arabia, Germany and Northern
Ireland, said she could not agree to that because it would mean having
to put her children into care - and claimed sex discrimination.
After her divorce, she moved out of the couple's £140,000 home in
Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Last night Julia Gillam, Heathrow's passenger communications manager,
said she was 'not going to get into a debate' about Ms Boote's
competence and experience.

Ms Gillam said: 'I can confirm she is the head of security at
Heathrow. She is absolutely ultimately responsible and has very
competent, very senior staff reporting to her who will manage
projects.'

The spokeswoman refused to discuss Ms Boote's relationship with
Heathrow's managing director.

She added: 'Donna was appointed to her current position before Mark
Bullock became managing director. 'Both Mark and Donna always keep
their professional roles and private lives absolutely separate.'

It's good to see there's no 'glass ceiling' at BAA for women and senior
roles

Kevin

On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 15:19:05 +0100, in alt.airports.uk.edinburgh
"monmouth taxis" wrote:

It's good to see there's no 'glass ceiling' at BAA for women and senior
roles

Anyone remember Janice Kong? She started out as a clerk with the then
British Airport Authority at Edinburgh Airport and finished-up as MD
of London Gatwick.



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