Sean Durfy becomes WestJet's chief executive officer in September, replacing veteran Clive Beddoe.
Durfy has been the Calgary-based airline's president for the past year, and will now hold both the chief executive and president positions. Beddoe formerly held both. Durfy's entered the industry in 2004 when he joined WestJet as executive vice-president of marketing. Previously he was chief operating officer for a utility company in Calgary.
Beddoe, who was one of WestJet's four co-founders, will stay on as WestJet's executive chairman, a post he now holds. The other three co-founders have left.
This is Beddoe's second attempt to relinquish the chief executive position at WestJet. The first was in 1999, when he turned it over to Steve Smith. His tenure was short-lived, with Beddoe complaining that Smith was too much of a "top-down" manager who failed to appreciate that WestJet is an egalitarian airline that thrives on teamwork. Beddoe retook the controls after Smith was dismissed and left to work for Air Canada.
By grooming Durfy in a senior management post for the past three years, and as president for the past year, Beddoe says he is comfortable that Durfy fully understands the company and how it works, and this transition will go smoothly. Durfy's appointment also has unanimous support from WestJet's board.
Beddoe, 61, insists that he is not leaving WestJet, but stepping back from day-to-day operations. As executive chairman, he predicts his role will be more as a mentor than a manager.
Over the years Beddoe has been one of Air Canada's sharpest and loudest critics. With Robert Milton also likely to step down soon as head of Air Canada's holding company, the controls at both of Canada's major airlines are about to pass to a new generation.
Source: Airline Business
