The leadership transition comes as Cargojet positions for European and Asian market expansion, with Dhillon bringing 24 years of operational expertise
Photo: Cargojet
Pauline Dhillon will become the sole chief executive of Carojet on 1 January after sharing the role with Jamie Porteous since 2024.
Dhillon is a founding partner of the airline and during her 24-year career has held roles of increasing responsibility, including vice president, corporate marketing & government affairs, chief corporate officer and, more recently, co-chief executive.
Porteous is also a founding member and will retire from the company on 31 December to spend more time with his family and to pursue personal passions.
Cargojet said that Dhillon has overseen corporate functions including human resources, finance and IT, regulatory affairs, strategic customer management, charter sales, revenue optimisation, maintenance, and stakeholder Management.
"Pauline has also been instrumental in building a strong and effective leadership team to support Cargojet’s continued growth," the airline said in a press release.
“Pauline’s strategic vision, deep understanding of our operations, and commitment to our customers and employees make her the ideal choice to lead Cargojet into the future,” said Ajay Virmani, executive chairman of Cargojet.
“Pauline embodies what Cargojet stands for in every respect and has been at the forefront of building a customer-centric culture that has become the foundation of our success."
Cargojet said it was well-positioned to capitalise on new growth opportunities, particularly in the European and Asian markets.
The airline recently launched a scheduled freighter service to Europe.
The two took over the role of co-chief executives in January last year as Virmani moved up to executive chairman.
The company also paid homage to Porteous: "As one of Cargojet’s founding members, Jamie has been a cornerstone of the company’s growth and success. His vision, integrity, and deep understanding of the business helped transform Cargojet from a bold start-up idea into Canada’s premier air cargo carrier and a respected global brand.
"He has been instrumental in building enduring customer partnerships and fostering a culture defined by service excellence, trust, and collaboration."
"Jamie’s impact on Cargojet cannot be overstated,” said Virmani. “He has been a trusted partner, a steady hand, and a true ambassador of our values. His leadership and loyalty have helped shape Cargojet’s identity and drive its growth for nearly a quarter of a century."
