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.
