People
Etihad Aviation Group names new CEO
September 29th 2017
Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Aviation Group on Thursday announced the appointment of Tony Douglas as CEO, replacing James Hogan, who departed the airline group from July 1. Read More »
Douglas will start in January 2018, joining the loss-making group from the UK Ministry of Defence, where he served as leader of the defence equipment and support unit.
He has held senior positions with airport operator BAA and as COO and Group chief executive designate of Laing O’Rourke. His roles at airport operator BAA included managing director of the Heathrow Terminal 5 project, group supply chain director, group technical director and CEO of Heathrow Airport.
Douglas is no stranger to the UAE, where he has been CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports Company and the Abu Dhabi Ports Company.
Etihad Aviation Group chairman, H. E. Al Mazrouei, said: “We are delighted to have Tony return to Abu Dhabi to lead Etihad. He has guided the transformation of large organisations in the UAE and the UK, and he understands the UAE and the region. He is also deeply knowledgeable about commercial aviation and keenly familiar with Etihad’s challenges and opportunities in a rapidly changing industry.”
Etihad recorded US$1.87 billion in losses in 2016 amid ballooning costs, the majority related to its failed investments in airberlin and Alitalia.
Douglas will take over from Ray Gammell who has been serving as interim CEO following Hogan’s departure. Gammell said his replacement would guide Etihad “into the next phase of its development.”
Once Douglas is in the job, Gammell will return to his position as group chief people and performance officer at the group. Ricky Thirion will continue to serve as interim group CFO. Etihad has yet to announce a new permanent CFO. The group’s former CFO, James Rigney, stepped down at the same time as Hogan.
