Get ready for a new era in airport concessions! Nikki Tinsley Harland, a seasoned leader with a proven track record in the travel retail industry, is set to become the next CEO of Concessions International (CI). This marks a significant moment as CI is one of America’s largest Black-owned airport concessionaires, and Harland will be breaking barriers as its new top executive.
A Legacy of Growth and Innovation
Harland will be taking the reins from Donata Russell Ross, who is retiring next month after an impressive 12 years as CEO and 42 years with the company. Under Ross’s leadership, CI has grown into a powerhouse with an annual revenue of $120 million and employs 1,100 people. During her tenure, the firm expanded its airport presence, integrated popular national brands, and championed opportunities for women and minority business participation.
CI currently serves over 30 brands across nearly 40 locations in eight airports. Ross will continue to support the transition as the board chair of H.J. Russell & Co., assisting Tinsley Harland until late Q1 2026. Ross expressed full confidence in her successor, calling Tinsley Harland the “ideal person to lead CI into the future.”
A New Leader with Deep Industry Roots
Tinsley Harland brings 12 years of leadership experience in the travel retail sector, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Paradies Lagardère, another prominent Atlanta-based airport concessionaire. CI specifically cited Harland’s ability to drive growth, foster innovation, and lead with integrity as key reasons for her selection.
She was chosen by a CEO search committee comprised of Russell Ross’s brothers, Michael B. Russell and H. Jerome Russell. These siblings are the children of the late Herman J. Russell, the legendary Atlanta businessman who founded H.J. Russell & Co. in 1952. Today, led by CEO Michael Russell, H.J. Russell & Co. stands as one of the nation’s largest Black-owned construction firms and is a consistent presence on BLACK ENTERPRISE’s Top 100 list.
Building on a Strong Foundation
Concessions International itself was founded 46 years ago by H.J. Russell and two partners. Russell eventually bought out his partners in 1999, making CI a fully family-owned enterprise. Tinsley Harland expressed her excitement to join CI, stating, “I am excited to join Concessions International as CEO and build upon the incredible foundation and legacy established by those who came before me, and particularly by Donata, who has served as an industry role model for so many of us.”
What are your thoughts on Nikki Tinsley Harland taking the helm at Concessions International? Do you think her leadership will bring new innovations to airport concessions? Share your insights in the comments below!
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