Etihad’s Hogan to become aviation group president and chief executive

James Hogan, who has served as Etihad Airways’ president and chief executive since September 2006, has been appointed Etihad Aviation Group president and chief executive.
The new management structure was announced by the Etihad Aviation Group board of directors, under the chairmanship of Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei.
Reporting to Hogan, the new chief executives of the group companies are: Chief executive, Etihad Airways: Peter Baumgartner will take on this new position and oversee the day-to-day running of Etihad Airways.
Baumgartner will have overall responsibility for flight operations, safety and quality, guest services, aviation security, sales, network operations, Etihad Airways marketing, Etihad Airport Services – ground, and Etihad Airport Services – catering.
Said Etihad: “Peter brings with him a wealth of experience in various aspects of the aviation business. 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, airline equity partners, Bruno Matheu will “drive the identification and realisation of synergy benefits across the airline’s strategic partners”.
Matheu joined Etihad Airways in 2014 in the newly created role of chief operating officer equity partners.
This role has been upgraded to chief executive level in recognition of the importance of partnerships.
Said Etihad: “The partnership strategy delivered revenues of $1.4bn and more than 5m passengers onto Etihad Airways’ flights in 2015. Matheu has almost 30 years of senior management experience in the global aviation industry, the past two decades with Air France-KLM.”
Jeff Wilkinson has been appointed as chief executive, Etihad Airways Engineering.
Under the leadership of Hogan, the key Etihad Aviation Group functions will be led by 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.
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, including Etihad Airways Engineering, Etihad Global Cargo Management Company, the Global Loyalty 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.”
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.
Hogan continued: “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.”