BAA, the Spanish-owned company that operates Scotland's three main air terminals, said yesterday it has appointed David Johnston - currently managing director of Edinburgh Airport - as group procurement director.

Johnston, 42, who joined BAA in May 2007, will join the firm's executive committee in his new role on June 1. He comes from County Durham and attended Sunderland University and holds an MBA degree.

Gordon Dewar, managing director of Glasgow Airport, will take additional responsibility for Edinburgh Airport until a permanent appointment is made, as soon as possible.

Colin Matthews, BAA's chief executive, said: "I am delighted that David Johnston has accepted my challenge to transform BAA's supply chain and its impact across the company as a whole and look forward to his contribution at the executive committee.

"In his short time at BAA, David has spearheaded the continued success of Edinburgh Airport and it is down to those efforts that his expertise is now in demand in other parts of the company."

Johnston said: "I am excited at the prospect of taking on this new challenge, but obviously disappointed to be leaving Edinburgh, a great city with a strong, growing airport and a good team working hard to bring success to the capital.

"My new role involves group-wide responsibilities for supply chain, so I will obviously retain a close interest in Scotland and in particular Edinburgh."

Before joining BAA, Johnston worked for a number of industrial companies, including Thorn Lighting and the Nissan Group.

BAA is owned by Grupo Ferrovial, a Spanish construction and infrastructure firm. It operates Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports as well as several airports in England including the London area terminals of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.

Johnston takes over his new role at a critical time for BAA. The company is under investigation by the Competiton Commission and may be forced to sell one or more of its airports. The commission is expected to make its recommendation later this year.

Meanwhie, BAA yesterday said it was raising £400m from shareholders amid concerns over its plans to refinance £10bn in debts.

The group said it had "not yet finalised certain aspects" of the refinancing due to "challenging market conditions".

BAA had been hoping to transfer around £4.7bn in bonds into a new ring-fenced funding vehicle backed by its three London airports as well as the Heathrow Express.

The company said it had not yet received sufficient commitments from banks for the refinancing move. It hopes to begin consultation with its bondholders "in the coming weeks" through the Association of British Insurers when aspects of the refinancing had been finalised.

A BAA spokesman said the company was sticking to its original timetable of refinancing its debts in the summer and denied the £400m from shareholders was emergency funding. The group has committed financing until 2011.