Irala steps down at Iberia
Iberia chairman, Xabier de Irala, is quitting the oneworld carrier to join the Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa bank. He will be succeeded by Fernando Conte, an independent board member since 2001 and chief executive of the ABB engineering group's Spanish activities. Irala joined Iberia in 1996, and was tasked with turning the airline around from years of losses and prepare it for privatisation.
The carrier was floated in April 2001, and Irala promoted Angel Mullor to managing director. Mullor has focused on the airline's day-to-day business, leaving Irala with a more strategic role.
Irala won the award for executive leadership at the 2002 Airline Business strategy awards. "The entire team has performed brilliantly, and Iberia is in the best possible situation to face the future," he says.
Conte, 53, joined Iberia in 2001. He has been with the ABB Group since 1974 in various capacities. He holds an industrial engineering degree and is an independent board member of Madrid-based global distribution system provider Amadeus.
COLIN BAKER LONDON
Source: Airline Business
