I don't really need to be a character judge as far as David Laws is concerned. His track record up at NCL speaks for itself and although he hasn't seen things through at LBA, he has overseen the beginnings of more progress at LBA in a very short time than any of his predecessors. The new terminal expansion, coupled with phase 2 (re-alignment of the existing terminal layout) will make a huge difference and largely correct many of the flaws in-built to the current terminal due to the piecemeal pattern of extension upon extension.
Lets just put it this way - when he first appeared at LBA and attended his first Consultative Committee meeting, he spelled out all that was wrong with LBA and what had to be done to correct it - from the terminal, to cleaning standards, to the levels of customer service and the shortcomings airside. He spelled out what he intended doing about it and for the first time I can ever remember (in over 25 years on the committee), he was roundly applauded by everyone. There was a noticeable uplifting of spirits with everyone feeling that we now had a CEO who spoke our language and would make a difference.
I suspect this news has only just come out, as LBA were completely open about Chris Sanders' impending retirement. Had it been known I would have thought they would have said something at the last meeting about David too.