EasyJet appoints board member Browne as COO amid cost-cutting

EasyJet appointed Christine Browne, a former executive at tour operator TUI’s airline division, as COO amid efforts to reduce costs and ride out turmoil across the European market that’s eating into the carrier’s profit. Browne, 56, will leave a non-executive post on EasyJet’s board to take up her new position as of Oct 1, the airline said Thursday. She will succeed Warwick Brady, who has been COO since 2009 and who will leave the carrier. EasyJet is set to give an update Oct 6 on its performance since British voters decided in late June to exit the EU, after shying away from providing an earnings forecast in the referendum’s immediate aftermath. The carrier said in July that costs excluding fuel would fall 1% in year through September as it works to offset overcapacity in Europe. <br/>