07 Oct 2014 12:30
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has announced the appointment of Bruno Matheu to the new position of Chief Operating Officer Equity Partners in the Etihad Airways Aviation Group.
With
almost 30 years of senior management experience in the global aviation
industry, Mr Matheu joins Etihad Airways after two decades at Air France-KLM.
He most recently served as Chief Long Haul Officer at Air France and previously
worked in executive roles across the airline’s commercial, network, marketing
and revenue management operations.
James
Hogan, Etihad Airways President and Chief executive officer, said: “I am
delighted to welcome Bruno to the Etihad Airways Aviation Group. The high level
of experience and expertise he brings will be critical in addressing the new
challenges and opportunities arising from the evolution of our business and the
fast-moving, dynamic interaction with our equity partners.
“I
am confident he will be able to direct our partnership strategy and manage the
supportive collaboration between our equity partners to optimise its commercial
and network benefits within the geo-political environment in which we
operate.”
The
French national, who graduated from École Centrale Paris, started his career at
Union de Transports Aériens (UTA), the largest wholly privately owned
independent airline in France.
Mr
Matheu will assume his new role as Chief Operating Officer Equity Partners in
December 2014, reporting directly to James Hogan, Etihad Airways President and Chief
Executive Officer.
He
will lead strategic developments to optimise business performance, revenues and
cost synergies between Etihad Airways and its equity partners across the world,
and provide strategic leadership for airline partners where Etihad Airways has
management responsibility.
Etihad
Airways has acquired minority shareholdings in airberlin, Air Seychelles,
Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus, Air Serbia and Jet Airways, and is currently in
the process of formalising equity investments in Alitalia and Swiss-based
Etihad Regional, operated by Darwin Airline.