Giovanni Bisignani
Appointed as IATA director general earlier this year, Giovanni Bisignani is perhaps best known for his time as chief executive of Alitalia in the early 1990s. In 1994 he had a spell away from air transport, leading major shipping and logistics interests in Italy. He returned to the industry just over a year ago to set up and head Opodo, the successful new online travel company created by nine of Europe's leading airlines.
Bob Crandall
During his 25 years at American Airlines and the parent AMR Corporation, Bob Crandall helped to revolutionise the travel industry. He is credited with having turned Sabre into a world-class computer reservation system, while in the 1980s he also led development of the industry's first yield management system and created AAdvantage as the first frequent flyer programme.
Prof Rigas Doganis
As a respected author and consultant, Professor Doganis advises both governments and airlines on the future of air transport policy. He is a former head of the air transport department at the College of Aeronautics at Cranfield University. In the mid-1990s he also briefly became chairman of Olympic Airways, helping the Greek flag carrier to its first profits after a major restructuring effort.
James Strong
Until last year James Strong led Qantas Airways as chief executive, having joined the carrier in 1993 at the time of the group's privatisation. Strong was highly successful in helping to steer the carrier through the upheavals that followed consolidation in the Australian airline sector. Earlier, in 1985-89, he had headed domestic carrier Australian Airlines which was eventually merged with Qantas.
Chris Tarry
Chris Tarry has long been among the most highly regarded aviation analysts in the London market, most recently working for Commerzbank. He is also a visiting lecturer at City and Cranfield Universities. Tarry had previously previously been at Dresdner Kleinwort Benson for 11 years, during which time he led a number of major share issues, including that of Lufthansa, the world's largest airline privatisation issue.
Source: Airline Business
