Americas appointment highlights of the month – November 2018

12 December, 2018

The travel, tourism and aviation industries in the Americas 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. The Blue Swan Daily will keep you informed of these movements each month, with a full wrap of the key changes in the Americas market, while also looking forward to key appointments announced for the following month.

Here are the key executive changes for November 2018:

  • Tulsa International Airport CEO Mark VanLoh announced his resignation, effective 01-Dec-2018.
  • Tulsa International Airport appointed Alexis Higgins as COO and interim CEO following the resignation of Mark VanLoh in Nov-2018.
  • Denver International Airport appointed Chris McLaughlin as chief operating officer (COO) on 02-Nov-2018.
  • Grupo Wamos appointed Eduardo Montes as president and Fenando Eiroa as CEO.
  • Global Eagle Entertainment appointed Per Norén as president, effective 08-Nov-2018.
  • Air Transat announced resident and GM Jean-François Lemay plans to depart the airline in a few months' time. Mr Lemay will continue in his current role until the company identifies a successor.
  • Aeromar appointed Danilo Correa as CEO, replacing Dieter Holtz Wedde.
  • Bristow GroupInc appointed Thomas N Amonett as interim president, following the decision of CEO Jonathan Baliff to retire "in the coming months".
  • Jetlines appointed Alan Bird as special advisor to the CEO and as a member of its board of directors. Mr Bird currently serves as an advisor to Irelandia Aviation. He has also served as Viva Aerobus CFO.
  • Quiport announced CEO Andrew O'Brian was appointed as ACI Latin America and Caribbean board president.
  • SouthwestAirlines announced the following executive changes, effective immediately:
    • Marilyn Post promoted as MD, deputy general counsel and corporate secretary;
      Sam Ford promoted as MD of operational strategy and performance. This position is a backfill for the role previously held by VP of operational strategies and performance Justin Jones, now serving as VP of technical operations planning and performance;
    • Wally Devereaux promoted as MD of cargo and charters. This position is a backfill for the role previously held by VP of cargo and charters Matt Buckley, who has retired;
    • Ray Schuster promoted as MD of accounting and financial reporting.
  • Airbus appointed Michael Schöllhorn as chief operating officer (COO) for Airbus Commercial Aircraft, effective 01-Feb-2019. He will succeed Tom Williams, who will retire at the end of Dec-2018. Mr Schöllhorn will report to Guillaume Faury, who will succeed Tom Enders as CEO following the AGM on 10-Apr-2019.
  • Airbus selected Dominik Asam as CFO, effective 10-Apr-2019. He will succeed Harald Wilhelm in the role.
  • Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport announced president and CEO Gaëtan Gagné plans to retire.
  • WestJet appointed Arved von zur Muehlen as chief commercial officer, effective 02-Jan-2019 and subject to Canadian immigration approval.
  • Grand Rapids Gerald R Ford International Airport announced Jim Gill retired as CEO and president, effective immediately. The Airport Authority Board appointed Brian Picardat to serve as interim CEO.
  • the americas