A visual record of some of this year’s key airline chief executive appointments

Interjet appointed Viva Air Colombia co-founder and former chief executive William Shaw as its new chief in mid-January. Shaw replaced Jose Luis Garza, who had served as Interjet’s chief executive since its launch in 2005. Garza joined the airline's board

Source: Interjet

IndiGo parent Interglobe Aviation disclosed the appointment of Ronojoy Dutta as the Indian low-cost carrier's new chief executive in late January. Airline founder Rahul Bhatia had been acting in the role since the departure of long-serving chief Aditya Ghosh in summer 2018

Source: IndiGo

Argentinian low-cost airline Flybondi appointed former LATAM Airlines Argentina executive Sebastian Pereira as its new chief executive in February, amid a management reshuffle at the airline. The move came two months after Flybondi’s founding chief executive Julian Cook left the airlines

Source: Flybondi

Virgin Australia named Paul Scurrah as its new chief executive and managing director in early February, succeeding John Borghetti from 25 March. Scurrah previously had chief executive roles at port operator DP World Australia and Queensland Rail, and executive general manager roles at Aurizon, Flight Centre and Tourism Queensland. He has also worked at Qantas and Ansett Australia

Source: Dean Lewins/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Walter Cho was appointed chief executive of Korean Air in April after the death of his father and former chief executive Cho Yang-ho

Source: BillyPix

Romanian low-cost carrier Blue Air appointed Oana Petrescu as its new chief executive in early May, replacing interim chief Marius Puiu. Petrescu joined Blue Air as interim chief financial officer in January 2018

Source: Blue Air

South African Airways named Zuks Ramasia as acting chief executive of the flag-carrier in June, following the resignation of Vuyani Jarana. Ramasia was the general manager of operations at the airline

Source: South African Airways

Connect Airways, the consortium that took over regional carrier Flybe, named Virgin Atlantic executive Mark Anderson as its new chief executive in June. Anderson was executive vice-president of customer experience at Virgin Atlantic and previously worked as managing director of Virgin Holidays. Later in the year, it was announced that Flybe would be rebranded as Virgin Connect

Source: Virgin Atlantic

In mid-June, Avianca appointed former Aeromexico executive Anko van der Werff as its new chief executive, effective 15 July. Former chief executive Hernan Rincon left the airline in April, just as the carrier was launching a transformation plan to improve profitability while slowing growth

Source: BillyPix

Augustus Tang was named as the new chief executive of Cathay Pacific in mid-August, having been with Swire Group — the carrier’s majority shareholder — since 1982. Tang replaced Rupert Hogg, who stepped down amid mainland pressure over pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong

Source: Swire Group

Following the senior management shake-up that saw its chief executive and commercial chief step down, Cathay Pacific appointed a new head of its low-cost subsidiary HK Express in mid-August. Cathay veteran Mandy Ng, who has been with the operator for 17 years, took over as HK Express chief executive with immediate effect, following the departure of Ronald Lam to the post of Cathay chief customer and commercial officer

Source: Cathay Pacific

AirAsia’s overseas subsidiaries had a busy year for new appointments. In August, Philippines AirAsia named Ricardo Isla (left) as its new chief executive. Isla succeeded Dexter Commendador, who returned to his previous position as chief operating officer. Meanwhile, at the end of October, Indonesia AirAsia named Veranita Yosephine (right) as its new chief executive. Yosephine succeeded Dendy Kurniawan

Source: AirAsia

Ryanair veteran Eddie Wilson replaced Michael O'Leary as chief executive of the group's main airline, effective 1 September. O'Leary became chief executive of the holding company that oversees Ryanair, its Austrian subsidiary Lauda, Polish unit Buzz, and Malta Air

Source: Oliver Hoslet/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Airline group IAG appointed Iberia Express chief executive Fernando Candela to oversee budget arm Level in early September, replacing Vincent Hodder. Iberia Express chief operating officer Carlos Gomez Suarez was named as the carrier's interim chief executive

Source: Iberia Express

Air New Zealand appointed Walmart US chief executive Greg Foran as its next chief executive in October. Foran will take up the post in the first quarter of 2020, Christopher Luxon having stepped down in late September

Source: David J Phillip/AP/Shutterstock

Wingo, the Colombian low-cost subsidiary of Panama's Copa Airlines, appointed Carolina Cortizo Colon as its chief executive in November. Cortizo previously held several positions with Copa. Catalina Breton, who led Wingo from its launch in 2016, left the carrier in May. Cortizo is the daughter of Panama's president, Laurentino Cortizo

Source: Wingo

Norwegian named former Circle K Europe group president Jacob Schram as its new chief executive in November. He will take up the position from the start of 2020. Geir Karlsen, who has been acting chief executive since long-standing boss Bjorn Kjos stepped down in July, will continue as chief financial officer and deputy chief executive

Source: Norwegian

United Airlines announced in December that president Scott Kirby will take over the chief executive role in May 2020, at which point current incumbent Oscar Munoz will become executive chairman of the US carrier's board

Source: United Airlines

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