His appointment further strengthens the airport company's link with Opus. Airport company chairman Tony Porter is a partner in the engineering firm and until recently was director of its Global Asset Management Team.
Former Mission Estate Winery sales and marketing manager Dean Smith has been hired as the airport's commercial manager.
A focus of his will be attracting high-quality tenants to the airports' adjoining business park development and growing additional revenue streams.
He said he looked forward to contributing to the regional economy as a whole.
"There is so much potential for growth at the airport and right across the region," he said.
"It's great to be a part of a team that is striving to optimise these opportunities and that are constantly looking at ways that we can improve our airport facilities and services to make the gateway to the region one the public can be very proud of."
Hawke's Bay Airport CEO Nick Story said Mr Eagles' depth of infrastructure knowledge and contacts were vital "in this busy growth phase".
"Dean also brings a great skill set to the company as well as knowledge of the region's major economic drivers," he said.
"Dean's insights around developing and implementing strategic growth strategies make him the ideal candidate for our commercial manager role. He will play an important role in commercialising the opportunities that I believe will arise as a result of the capital development programme we are undertaking and the growth we are seeing across the region.
"It is an exciting time and I am pleased to have both Dean and Graham on board."
Passenger numbers are five years ahead of projection. In the year to June 30, 566,000 passengers went through the terminal thanks partly to the arrival of two new airlines - Jetstar and Sounds Air.
