Etihad Airways has announced new roles and responsibilities for four of its most senior UAE nationals.

Ahmed Al Qubaisi, who currently holds the position of vice president Aero Political and Industry Affairs, will be promoted to senior vice president and take on responsibility for International Affairs and for Environmental Affairs. Al Qubaisi joined Etihad Airways in 2015 as vice president Alliances and Partnerships, before being promoted to his current role in 2016.

Hareb Al Muhairy is to become senior vice president, UAE and GCC Sales, responsible for driving sales revenues in the airline’s priority markets. He moves from his current position in corporate and international affairs.  

Al Muhairy joined Etihad Airways in 2004 having studied political science and management at the UAE University in Al Ain. He also holds a Master Degree in Strategic and Security Studies gained in 2015 from the National Defense College.

Amina Taher has been promoted to vice president, corporate affairs, and will be responsible for leading corporate communications strategy for Etihad Aviation Group (EAG). Taher has hosted a number of Etihad Airways’ global media conferences and more recently has been focused on providing corporate communications strategic and campaign support to the Etihad Airways executive leadership. With this promotion, she becomes one of the group’s most senior female executives.

Taher holds both a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the London Business School and a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University gained in 2015. She achieved a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Media Studies with honours from the Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai.

Finally, responsibility for the airline’s corporate social responsibility strategy will be moved under Dr. Nadia Bastaki, vice president Medical Services. She was the first female aviation medicine specialist in the UAE appointed by the Abu Dhabi health authority and was also the first GCAA instructor and Medical Review Officer (MRO) for the region appointed by the GCAA. Dr. Bastaki joined the Medical Centre at Etihad Airways in 2007 and is a leading Aviation Medical specialist in the region. Under her leadership the Etihad Medical Centre has become adopted by the industry as best-in-class and the addition of corporate social responsibility is a natural extension of her Medical and Wellbeing portfolio.

Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, chairman of the Board of the Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Our business is committed to developing career opportunities for advancing UAE nationals. These four highly-talented leaders have all seized those opportunities to develop careers as senior executives within one of the UAE’s largest businesses.”

These new executive roles come two weeks after Etihad Airways’ team at Abu Dhabi International Airport welcomed 157 talented Emirati nationals from across the UAE, after they graduated from the Etihad UAE National Development Foundation Programme.

Etihad Aviation Group employs more than 3,000 Emiratis and runs more than 20 programmes to attract, train and develop UAE nationals in areas such as engineering, flight operations, management and at the all-female Al Ain Contact Centre. - TradeArabia News Service