British Airways Chairman and Chief Executive Alex Cruz will be stepping down from his position as the global airline industry tackle its worst crisis in decades with reduced air travel brought about by the pandemic.
International Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways, announced in a statement on Monday that Cruz will step down from his position as Sean Doyle, Aer Lingus Chairman and Chief Executive will take over the position after a transition period.
Cruz, however, will remain as British Airways’ non-executive chairman. He became British Airways chairman and chief executive in April 2016.
He was previously chief executive of Vueling from 2009 when it merged with Clickair, an airline Cruz founded in 2006. Alex began his career at American Airlines where he worked for 10 years before undertaking various management consultancy roles in the airline and travel industry.
The recent senior management changes in British Airways come at a time when the airline industry faces its worst crisis so far as many airlines have reported being at the brink of bankruptcy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re navigating the worst crisis faced in our industry and I’m confident these internal promotions will ensure IAG is well placed to emerge in a strong position,” said IAG chief executive Luis Gallego.
Gallego thanked Cruz for over four years in the chief executive position especially at the height of lockdowns at the onset of the pandemic that has left many airports empty and without the usual flow of passengers.
“I want to thank Alex for all that he has done at British Airways. He worked tirelessly to modernise the airline in the years leading up to the celebration of its 100th anniversary. Since then, he has led the airline through a particularly demanding period and has secured restructuring agreements with the vast majority of employees,” Gallego said.
Gallego said Doyle, who will replace Cruz, has extensive experience at British Airways having worked in the company for 20 years before moving to head Aer Lingus nearly two years ago.
Doyle joined British Airways in 1998 undertaking various financial, strategy, commercial, and alliance roles for the airline culminating in his appointment to the airline’s executive management committee in 2016 as director of network, fleet, and alliances.
IAG senior management changes outside British Airways
Fernando Candela, LEVEL chief executive, will also be joining the IAG’s management committee in a new role of chief transformation officer.
Candela became LEVEL chief executive in September 2019. He was previously chief executive of Iberia Express for six years and, before that, director of planning and management control at Air Nostrum.
“Fernando Candela, who has more than 25 years of experience in aviation and excelled at both Iberia Express and LEVEL, joins our management committee in the new chief transformation officer role. He will coordinate change across the Group, focusing on creating a company fit for a different future and ready to take advantage of new opportunities. In the short term, he will also remain, chief executive of LEVEL, until a replacement is appointed,” he said.
Meanwhile, at Aer Lingus, Donal Moriarty, currently, the airline’s chief corporate affairs officer, will become interim chief executive pending an announcement of a permanent appointment.
Moriarty became Aer Lingus chief corporate affairs officer in November 2017. A qualified lawyer, he joined the airline in 2009 as its company secretary.
“As our new team comes together, we remain focused on making the right operational and strategic decisions for the long-term benefit of all IAG’s stakeholders,” Gallego said.
IAG shares dipped 0.2% at morning trading but recovered at 0.5%. The company’s shares, however, remain down almost 60% so far in 2020.
Read More Stories: US Real Estate Buyers and Sellers have Wide Disconnect on Pricing
