In a major management restructure, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Aviation Group has appointed James Hogan as its president and chief executive officer.

Under the leadership of Hogan, who has served as Etihad Airways president and chief executive officer since September 2006, 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, said Etihad Aviation Group chairman Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei.

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,” he said.

Reporting to James Hogan, the new chief executive officers of the group companies are as follows:

Etihad Airways CEO: Peter Baumgartner will take on this new position and oversee the day-to-day running of Etihad Airways. He 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.
Baumgartner 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.

CEO, Airline Equity Partners: Bruno Matheu will drive the identification and realisation of synergy benefits across the airline’s strategic partners. 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 $1.4 billion and more than five million passengers onto Etihad Airways’ flights in 2015. Matheu has almost 30 years of senior management experience in the global aviation industry, the past two decades with Air France-KLM.

CEO, 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.

CEO, 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.

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,” he said.

“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,” added Hogan. – TradeArabia News Service