Simon Black

Simon Black leads Newmark’s Aviation and Travel Retail division, driving innovation and shaping the future of the global travel retail industry. With over 25 years of experience, he is widely recognised as a leading authority in travel retail.

Simon’s career spans senior management roles with Heathrow Airport, the former British Airports Authority, World Duty Free (now Avolta) and Stansted Airport. He has also steered travel retail strategies for luxury brands, including Dunhill and Smythson.

A sought-after speaker at international conferences, Simon is passionate about redefining commercial thinking in airports and travel hubs worldwide. Since joining Newmark as a Managing Partner in 2016, he has transformed the Aviation and Travel Retail division into one of industry’s most influential consultancy businesses. Under Simon’s leadership, the team has grown to operate globally from offices in New York, London, Copenhagen, Madrid and Hong Kong.

Simon’s impact on the industry began long before Newmark. At Heathrow, he pioneered luxury retailing in airports, a game-changing move that continues to influence global travel retail today. In 2012, he played a pivotal role in persuading LVMH to expand into travel retail market directly with branded boutiques, leading to the opening of Louis Vuitton’s directly run boutique in Terminal 5 paving the way for the LVMH global expansion in airport retail.

Under Simon’s leadership, Newmark has advised on travel hub transactions worth over €10 billion; provided commercial planning support on duty free, retail, F&B and lounges to over 50 international airports across EMEA, the USA and Australia; advised on numerous hotel developments at airports in Europe; written lounge strategies for projects and provided strategic retail consultancy advice to some of the world’s most iconic retailers and brands.

Ranging from smaller regional airports to some of the world’s largest international hubs, Newmark is renowned for creating forward-thinking, consumer-centric commercial strategies.

Simon and the team actively collaborate with industry organisations such as TFWA and ACI to shape future business models, ensuring travel retail thrives for decades to come.