Peter Baumgartner has been appointed as the new CEO of Etihad Airways while James Hogan, current President and CEO, takes the helm of the Etihad Aviation Group PJSC.
The Group’s Board of Directors, of which HE Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei is Chairman, has announced the new management structure.
“Etihad Airways has been steadily evolving into the Etihad Aviation Group for a number of years,” says HE Mohamed Murabak Al Mazrouei. “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 been appointed the new Pesident and CEO of the Etihad Aviation Group, has served as Etihad Airways President and CEO since September 2006.
James Rigney as Group CFO, 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 will work with Hogan on strategic growth of the Group and its companies going forward.
The new CEOs of the companies which make up the Group were announced as follows:
CEO Etihad Airways: Peter Baumgartner
Baumgarnter joined Etihad Airways in April 2005 from Swiss International Air Lines and has managed the airline’s global commercial efforts and was instrumental in the development of Etihad Airways’ award winning Reimagined brand and product, and company services.
As Etihad CEO, Baumgartner will oversee the day-to-day operations of Etihad Airways with 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.
Bruno Matheu becomes CEO of Airline Equity Partners
Matheu will be responsible to identify and develop synergies between the airline’s strategic partners. He joined Etihad Airways in 2014 as the first COO of Equity Partners, and the position has been upgraded to the CEO level “in recognition of the importance of partnerships,” the Etihad Group states. Matheu has nearly 30 years of senior management experience in the aviation industry, the past two decades with Air France-KLM.
The partnership strategy developed with member airlines has delivered revenues of US $1.4 billion, and brought more than five million passengers onboard Etihad Airways’ flights during 2015.
Jeff Wilkinson is promoted from Senior Vice President Technical to CEO of Etihad Airways Engineering.
He joined Etihad Airways in 2006 and has more than 15 years’ leadership experience.
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.
It became a wholly owned subsidiary of Etihad Airways in 2014, following the acquisition of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies.
The airline has also announced that it is recruiting a CEO for Etihad Aviation Group company: the 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,” The Etihad Aviation Group states.
Growth Through Partnerships
“Etihad Airways today is profitable with a workforce of more than 20,500 people from more than 140 nationalities,” says James Hogan.
“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.”
Rapid Rise to Prominence
Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2015 carried 17.6 million passengers.
The airline holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia, and Swiss-based Darwin Airline, trading as Etihad Regional.
Etihad Airways also established Etihad Airways Partners, including airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and NIKI, an alliance brand which improves connections between member networks, coordinates schedules for optimised services, and frequent flyer programs.
More on Growth at Etihad Airways:
Etihad Airways Makes Critical Appointment of New GM for China, Flight Chic
Partnerships More Important than Ever, Says Etihad CEO, Flight Chic