Etihad Airways – the national airline of the United Arab Emirates – has introduced a new commercial management team to lead the future worldwide development of Etihad Airways.
The new appointments and strategic restructuring has been developed by Geert W. Boven, Etihad’s recently appointed Vice President Commercial, to ensure the airline is better equipped and prepared to meet the challenge and future growth.
Etihad’s rapid expansion is reinforced with the recent launch of eight new routes, Manila (Philippines), Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar (Pakistan), Jakarta (Indonesia), Manchester (United Kingdom) and Muscat (Oman) all in the first quarter of 2006, with several additional routes to be launched before the end of the year.
Etihad Airways has also started taking delivery of its new fleet which includes, five Boeing 777-300ER and 24 Airbus aircraft - all required to service the airline’s rapid route expansion to meet its goal of 70 destinations by 2010.
Commenting on the new team structure, Mr Boven said, “The successful global growth and expansion of Etihad Airways has been the catalyst for this new commercial structure. Etihad is currently the world’s leading new airline, and this new team is essential to managing the future growth and development of the airline around the world.”
The new commercial structure introduces four individual regional general managers: Raymond Korban - UAE and Oman, Kirk Albrow - Europe and Americas, Ian Lovelock - Middle East and Africa and Charles Phelps-Penry - Asia Pacific.
The four regional general managers are based in Abu Dhabi and are responsible for managing respective country and territory managers based in designated outstations as well as offline markets in the region.
In addition to the new regional general managers, the commercial division also consists of six key department managers: Head of Marketing - Peter Baumgartner, Head of Product and Service Delivery - Peter van Gompel, Head of Revenue Management - Ali Saleh, General Manager Etihad Holidays - Nick Wood, and Head of Brand Management and Communications - Ian Ferguson-Brown.
“The new commercial organisation structure means we can develop and manage appropriately in local markets through faster communications between head office and the regions. This also ensures the ability to respond quickly to changing trends in local markets and adapt our services and plans accordingly,” added Boven.
Etihad Airways has also announced a number of new appointments to its commercial outstation management team. Abbas Al Ali has been appointed as manager for Morocco based in Casablanca, Hamza Sharif as manager for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Magdi Labib, manager for Kuwait, Manuel Staerkle, acting manager Philippines and Jill Errington as project manager Bangladesh.
Etihad Airways is currently introducing at least one new route a month and the new structure will ensure sustained network development whilst allowing the airline to drive revenue and build organisational growth.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is the world’s leading new airline and will now offer flights for Guests and cargo to 30 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
Etihad Crystal Cargo – www.crystalcargo.ae – offers a comprehensive range of cargo services throughout Etihad’s network, and services its many all-cargo destinations and world-wide charters with a fleet of modern regional freighter aircraft.
Etihad Holidays - www.etihadholidays.com - offers a range of innovative holiday options to 69 destinations across 23 countries. Packages include skiing, fly-drives, cruises and tours.
Through these exciting divisions, Etihad Airways is changing the way people see the world.
For more information about this award-winning aviation group, please visit www.etihadairways.ae.
