Easyjet Chairman Barton prepares to step down in 2022

EasyJet Chairman John Barton is preparing to step down once he has completed nine years in the post in May 2022, the British airline said Saturday. The company has already started the search for a successor just as the airline industry battles to recover from the devastating impact on travel of the coronavirus pandemic. EasyJet is desperate to start flying at scale again this summer, but COVID-19 restrictions remain in place and worries over the spread of the Indian variant in Britain are threatening to hamper the hoped-for travel bounce back. Barton's plan to step down was first reported by Sky News. The airline, which noted a nine-year term is the recommended maximum for best practice in corporate governance, said Barton remained fully committed to his role. It said it had hired an executive search agency to help find a successor and ensure an orderly transition.<br/>