In Brief
Vijay Poonoosamy has been promoted to the position of vice-president international affairs at Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways. The former Air Mauritius executive joined Etihad in 2005.
Bram Stellar, who is currently the managing director of Trans Maldivian Airways, is leaving the carrier to become chief operating officer of Kenya Airways. He takes up the newly-created position in mid-August. Most of the Dutch national's career has been spent with KLM, but since 2000 he has also had positions at Kenya Airways and India's Jet Airways, before taking the helm at TMA in 2003.
Former OAG and SITA executive Duncan Alexander has been appointed vice-president sales and market development at Dubai-based Mercator, which is the IT and technology arm of the Emirates Group.
Ivan Misetic, the president of Croatia Airlines, has been elected as the chairman of the Association of European Airlines for 2008 when he will take over from current chair KLM's Peter Hartman.
Hawaiian Airlines has appointed Avi Mannis as vice-president revenue management and schedule planning. He is an ex-Boston Consulting Group executive.
Americas
Kelly to chair Southwest
The Southwest Airlines board of directors has elected chief executive Gary Kelly as its board chairman, taking over from founder Herb Kelleher. The airline said Kelly will also assume the title of president when Colleen Barrett's employment contract expires in mid-July, making him chief executive, chairman and president.
Additionally, executive vice-president Ron Ricks was elected to fill Barrett's vacated position of corporate secretary.
"The awesome task before us is to ensure the continued prosperity of Southwest Airlines - one of the greatest success stories in American business," Kelly said. "We all pledge to continue to keep the LUV alive and the Warrior Spirit strong that Herb and Colleen inspire in all 34,000 Southwest Employees."
Kolshak on the move again
Joe Kolshak, the former chief pilot for Delta Air Lines, has joined United Airlines after a brief period as the chief operating officer at Midwest Airlines. Kolshak left Delta after 20 years, ending his career there as executive vice-president of operations.
He joins United as senior vice-president of operations, and will be in charge of United Services, as well as the airline's flight operations and operations control.
Kolshak will be based in San Francisco and will report to John Tague, executive vice-president and chief operating officer. United also announced the retirement of Bill Norman as senior vice-president in charge of United Services.
Haak moves up a notch at AirTran
AirTran Airways has promoted Arne Haak, current vice-president finance and treasurer, to senior vice-president finance, treasurer and chief financial officer. He replaces Stan Gadek, who is now chief executive of Sun Country Airlines.
Since joining AirTran in 1999 Haak has worked in a variety of roles from financial planning and analysis to investor relations. The former US Airways man took on his current role in January 2006.
Hayes en route to JetBlue
Robin Hayes, British Airways executive vice-president for the Americas, will join JetBlue Airways as executive vice-president and chief commercial officer.
The exact date of his transition is uncertain, but Hayes will be instrumental in the carrier's growing overseas presence, said JetBlue chief executive Dave Barger. JetBlue has an agreement with Aer Lingus for joint reservations and Lufthansa, which holds a 19% stake in JetBlue, plans some as yet undisclosed co-operative measures.
Europe
New managers for Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines has gone for a German-style management structure with the appointment of Michel Meyfroidt, chief financial officer of the carrier and Bernard Gustin, a senior partner of consultants Arthur D Little, as managing directors.
The change in structure has meant that its chief executive, Philippe Vander Putten, who disagreed with the restructuring, will leave the carrier.
Meyfroidt will oversee operations, finance, administration and human resources, while Gustin will oversee strategic, commercial, network, communication and IT matters. Gustin has been working with the carrier since 2001.
Asia
Cathay's Internal Promotions
Cathay Pacific has announced a number of promotions that reflect the company's longstanding policy of developing its own management expertise.
Ian Shiu, general manager revenue management, sales & distribution, is named director corporate development, while Ivan Chu, general manager Southwest Pacific, is named director service delivery. Both have over 20 years service with the carrier.
Quince Chong, who has been with Cathay since 1998, is appointed to the new position of director corporate affairs, and Rupert Hogg is named director cargo. Hogg arrives from a John Swire subsidiary and served at Cathay from 1988 to 1997.
Tay Moves up at Tiger
Low-cost carrier Tiger Airways has named Rosalynn Tay as managing director of its Singapore operations. Tay, who joined in February 2006 as chief commercial and marketing officer, was recently promoted to managing director of Tiger Airways Singapore, reporting to group chief executive Tony Davis.
Elsewhere, Tiger has appointed Chris Ward, managing director of its Australian operations, to head up its new South Korean business Incheon Tiger Airways. Shelley Roberts, asset director with Australia's Macquarie Airports, will replace Ward. She was previously with easyJet.
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Source: Airline Business
