Going Places – industry appointment highlights for Jun-2021

The travel, tourism and aviation industries in the across the globe witness policy and upper level changes on a daily basis. It is important to not only keep tabs of these organisations direction, but to also monitor changes in executive branches to see the wider picture of the travel market. CTC - Corporate Travel Community aims to keep you informed of these movements each month, with a full wrap of the key changes across regional markets, while also featuring key appointments announced for the month.

Here are the key executive changes for Jun-2021:

Americas

• Volaris appointed Jose Alejandro de Iturbide Gutierrez as chief legal officer, effective 16-Jun-2021.
• WestJet announced president and CEO Ed Sims will retire in Dec-2021.
• Avianca Holdings appointed Manuel Ambriz as chief commercial officer (CCO), effective 01-Jul-2021.
• Southwest Airlines announced chairman and CEO Gary Kelly will transition roles in early 2022, becoming the carrier's executive chairman, to serve in that role through at least 2026. Executive VP corporate services Robert Jordan will become Mr Kelly's successor as CEO, effective 01-Feb-2022.

Asia Pacific

• Air New Zealand appointed Nikhil Ravishankar as chief digital officer.
• Virgin Australia appointed Dave Emerson as chief commercial officer and a member of the executive leadership team.
• Spring Airlines Japan appointed Akira Yonezawa as president, succeeding Toshiyuki Kashihara who retired on 29-Jun-2021.
• Thai Airways announced its plan administrators will appoint Suvadhana Sibunruang as acting CEO from 16-Jun-2021 until 30-Sep-2021.
• China Southern Airlines announced the appointment of Han Wen Sheng as president and vice chairman of the company, effective 22-Jun-2021.

Europe, Middle East & Africa

• Norse Atlantic Airways appointed Michael Scheurich as chief legal officer, effective 15-Jun-2021.
• Yamal Airlines appointed technical director Artyom Lobachev as interim DG, following the resignation of DG Vasily Kryuk on 24-May-2021.
• Nepal Airlines chairman Sushil Ghimire resigned his position.
• Norwegian announced the appointment of Geir Karlsen as CEO effective 21-Jun-2021, succeeding Jacob Schram as per a 20-Jun-2021 board vote.
• IAG Cargo announced the appointment of David Shepherd as managing director, effective 01-Aug-2021.
• Air Transat announced VP finance and administration and CFO Denis Pétrin will leave the company on 09-Jul-2021. Jacques Simoneau, currently a member of carrier's board of directors, will serve as interim CFO until the recruitment of Mr Pétrin's successor is completed.
• Seychelles' Ministry of Transport appointed Air Seychelles COO Sandy Benoiton as CEO, succeeding Remco Althuis, effective 01-Jul-2021. The ministry also appointed Tyrian Gendron as CFO, succeeding Michael Berlouis from the same date.