One of the oldest airlines in the world is getting a shuffle at the top. Avianca will see a new Chief Operating Officer as the current one moves up to the role of Deputy CEO. The airline's current CEO, Adrian Neuhauser, will continue in his role and focus on leading strategic projects for the airline owner Abra Group. Avianca announced two crucial changes today. Frederico Pedreira, the airline's Chief Operating Officer since 2021, is being immediately promoted to the company's Deputy CEO. The current CEO of Cargo, Gabriel Oliva, will take on the role of Chief Operating Officer in addition to his current position. Pedreira, who joined the company in January 2021, will be responsible for additional duties at Avianca, including human talent, technology, corporate communications, customer promise, and institutional relations. During his time with the company, he has already driven substantial improvement in the airline's operational indicators, including an increase in punctuality. Adrian Neuhauser, CEO of Avianca and Deputy CEO of Abra Group, will continue in both positions and dedicate his time to accelerating the process of consolidating operations within the group (which also includes the carrier GOL). Neuhauser noted how Pedreira and Oliva had worked faithfully during their time at the airline: "We are very pleased to announce the promotion of Frederico and Gabriel. Without a doubt, they have been a fundamental part of the team that has helped us to become a sustainable organization that with operational efficiency as a priority has managed to connect more, transport billions of passengers and reinvent cargo operations. I am sure they will also put the focus of their management on our more than 12,000 employees around the world so that we have a team that is proud of what we have built."<br/>
star
Scandinavian carrier SAS has named strategy and restructuring specialist Ginger Hughes as the company’s new chief transformation officer. SAS filed for US Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July last year, in order to undertake its ‘SAS Forward’ restructuring programme. Hughes was previously a senior manager at advisory firm Seabury Group and has served to guide SAS through its Chapter 11 process. She formally joined SAS on 1 September. SAS CE Anko van der Werff says she has been “instrumental” to restructuring activities and strategic transformations, as well as such activities as aircraft procurement, financing, and cost optimisation. The company has also named a new chief commercial officer, Paul Verhagen, following the decision by Karl Sandlund to step down and take up a role elsewhere. Verhagen has worked in several senior roles including deputy chief at Iberojet – the Spanish charter carrier which emerged from the combination of Evelop and Orbest – and positions with Aeromexico and Air France-KLM. He joined SAS on 14 August.<br/>