New management structure for growing Etihad Airways Group

Chairman, Mohamed Mubarak 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,” These include Etihad Airways Engineering, Etihad Global Cargo Management 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,” Al Mazrouei, said.

James Hogan, who has served as president and CEO of Etihad Airways becomes Etihad Aviation Group’s president and CEO. Key management across the group include 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.

Peter Baumgartner becomes CEO of the airline and will oversee the day-to-day running of Etihad Airways.. 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 of the Airline Equity Partners business will be Bruno Matheu. Matheu joined Etihad Airways in 2014 in the newly created role of chief operating officer Equity Partners and this role has been upgraded to CEO level in recognition of the importance of partnerships - a strategy which delivered revenues of $1.4 billion and more than five million passengers onto Etihad Airways’ flights in 2015.

Jeff Wilkinson becomes CEO of Etihad Airways Engineering from his current role as senior vice president technical.

The group is yet to announce a CEO for its Hala Group which covers commercial operations such as the global loyalty company, Hala Travel 

Pictured: New roles for Baumgartner (left) and Hogan

Speaking about the appointments Hogan said: “Etihad Airways today is profitable with a workforce of more than 20,500 people from more than 140 nationalities.

“We have more than 3,000 UAE nationals, reflecting our role as a key enabler and contributor to the growth of Abu Dhabi and its workforce. We have strong succession planning in place to ensure that our commitment to Emiratisation constantly strengthens and deepens.

“However, Etihad Airways is no longer a stand-alone business. The Etihad Aviation Group employs more than 27,000 people and these structural changes and appointments will ensure that we have a unified approach that links all parts of the group and provides wider strategic direction to deliver success.

“The new management structure will enable us to maximise opportunities for growth, revenue generation and cost control on a much bigger scale so that the Etihad Aviation Group continues to deliver to its fullest potential and for the benefit of its guests, employees and suppliers.”