The Etihad Aviation Group Board of Directors under the Chairmanship of HE Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei has announced the new management structure for the Etihad Aviation Group PJSC, which was formally established by Abu Dhabi Law No. 6 of 2014.
Etihad Aviation Group
Chairman, Mr Al Mazrouei said: “Etihad
Airways has been steadily evolving into the Etihad Aviation Group for a number
of years.
“This has been
driven by the formation of new companies, including Etihad Airways Engineering,
Etihad Global Cargo Management Company, the Global Loyalty Company, Hala Abu
Dhabi, and Etihad Airport Services.
“The
acquisition of minority equity stakes in Alitalia, airberlin, Air Serbia, Air
Seychelles, Etihad Regional operated by Darwin Airline, Jet Airways, and Virgin
Australia, has also necessitated the need for a dedicated team to manage our
shareholding, and the delivery of wide-ranging synergies that are beneficial to
all parties.”
James Hogan,
who has served as Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer since
September 2006, has been appointed Etihad Aviation Group President and Chief
Executive Officer.
Under the
leadership of Mr Hogan, the key Etihad Aviation Group functions will be led by
James Rigney as Group Chief Financial Officer, Kevin Knight as Group Chief
Strategy and Planning Officer, Ray Gammell as Group Chief People and
Performance Officer, and Robert Webb as Group Chief Information and Technology
Officer. These areas will provide leadership, governance and strategic
direction in their expert areas across all companies in the Etihad Aviation
Group.
Reporting to
James Hogan, the new Chief Executive Officers of the group companies are as
follows:
Chief
Executive Officer Etihad Airways: Peter Baumgartner will take
on this new position and oversee the day-to-day running of Etihad Airways. Mr
Baumgartner will have overall responsibility for Flight Operations, Safety and
Quality, Guest Services, Aviation Security, Sales, Network Operations, Etihad
Airways Marketing, Etihad Airport Services – Ground, and Etihad Airport
Services – Catering. Peter brings with him a wealth of experience in various
aspects of the aviation business. He joined Etihad Airways in April 2005 from
Swiss International Air Lines and has managed the airline’s intense global
commercial efforts during a period of rapid growth, both in terms of commercial
expansion and the introduction of new product and service innovations.
Chief Executive Officer Airline Equity Partners: Bruno Matheu will drive the identification and
realisation of synergy benefits across the airline’s strategic partners. Mr Matheu
joined Etihad Airways in 2014 in the newly created role of Chief Operating
Officer Equity Partners. This role has been upgraded to Chief Executive Officer
level in recognition of the importance of partnerships. The partnership
strategy delivered revenues of US $1.4 billion and more than five million
passengers onto Etihad Airways’ flights in 2015. Mr Matheu has almost 30 years
of senior management experience in the global aviation industry, the past two
decades with Air France-KLM.
Chief Executive Officer Etihad Airways Engineering:
Jeff Wilkinson has been appointed to this position
from his existing role as Senior Vice President Technical. He has more than 15
years’ leadership experience, eight of which have been at Etihad Airways, which
he joined in 2006. Etihad Airways Engineering became a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Etihad Airways in 2014 following the acquisition of Abu Dhabi Aircraft
Technologies. Today, Etihad Airways Engineering provides airframe and component
maintenance services, along with Supply Chain Management and Design
Engineering, to Etihad Airways, equity partner airlines, and third-party
airlines.
Chief Executive Officer Hala Group: The establishment of the Hala Group recognises how
commercial operations have grown across a variety of travel and hospitality
businesses. It will ensure a coordinated approach that drives strong commercial
value for Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi, and equity partners through the Global
Loyalty Company, Group Brand and Marketing teams, Hala Travel Management – HTM,
Hala Abu Dhabi, and Etihad Holidays. Recruitment for this position is ongoing.
Mr Hogan
added: “Etihad Airways today is profitable with a workforce of more than 20,500
people from more than 140 nationalities.
“We have more
than 3,000 UAE nationals, reflecting our role as a key enabler and contributor
to the growth of Abu Dhabi and its workforce. We have strong succession
planning in place to ensure that our commitment to Emiratisation constantly
strengthens and deepens.
“However,
Etihad Airways is no longer a stand-alone business. The Etihad Aviation Group
employs more than 27,000 people and these structural changes and appointments
will ensure that we have a unified approach that links all parts of the group
and provides wider strategic direction to deliver success.
“The new
management structure will enable us to maximise opportunities for growth,
revenue generation and cost control on a much bigger scale so that the Etihad
Aviation Group continues to deliver to its fullest potential and for the
benefit of its guests, employees and suppliers.”