More than 3 million passengers passed through the airport in April 2023.
“By the end of the year the airport will be close to fully recovered, and that will be the right time to hand over to a new CEO who will lead the airport through the next phase,” Mr Culbert said on Tuesday.
His departure will spark speculation over a potential successor. Former Sydney Airport chief operating and chief financial officer Hugh Wehby could be a candidate if he misses out on the top job at Transurban following CEO Scott Charlton’s resignation.
Transurban is considering candidates to replace Mr Charlton, who has also resigned, with Mr Wehby believed to be on the short-list along with the tollroad group’s chief financial officer Michelle Jablko.
Sydney Airport chairman David Gonski said the company would do a global search for a new CEO.
Under Mr Culbert’s management, the airport – which was once owned by the Macquarie Group and managed as an infrastructure asset – became more traveller-friendly.
It was rebranded as SYD and a Tasmanian oak wall was built at the international departures gate that attracts travellers taking selfies.
The SYD logo, the first significant brand change since the airport was privatised in 2002, reflects the first three letters of the airport’s name and its international airport code and also appears on merchandise sold at the airport.
More recently new gardens have popped up with native plants and trees planted and managed by Indigenous not-for-profit group Wildflower.
Before joining Sydney Airport Mr Culbert worked for 15 years at multinational conglomerate GE, including running its Australia and New Zealand business.
His departure will coincide with a new boss at Qantas, with Vanessa Hudson succeeding Alan Joyce in November.