It’s seems that International Airline Group is having a shuffle at the top of the airline, and British Airways CEO Alex Cruz will be stepping down from the role, making way for Sean Doyle of Aer Lingus to take over as Chief Executive… and eventually, chairman. 

 
P45 for Mr Cruz please.

In summary, the changes are:

• Alex Cruz, British Airways chairman and chief executive, is to step down as the chief executive and remain the airline’s non-executive chairman.
• Sean Doyle, Aer Lingus chairman and chief executive, will become the new chief executive of British Airways and take over as chairman after a transition period.
• Fernando Candela, LEVEL chief executive, is joining the Group’s management committee in a new role of chief transformation officer.
• At Aer Lingus, Donal Moriarty, currently, the airline’s chief corporate affairs officer, will become interim chief executive. A permanent appointment will be announced in due course

The move comes a month after Willie Walsh stepped down as CEO of IAG, with Luis Gallego taking his place.

Alex Cruz has been in-situ since 2016 and has overseen a mixture of things – from the downgrading of snack baskets on long haul routes (before that was rolled back), to Buy on board being offered, embarrassing IT Systems failures that brought the airline to its knees, celebrating BA’s 100th anniversary and of course, some of the poorest industrial relation the airline has had for some years.

In quotes

IAG chief executive, Luis Gallego, said:

“IAG has proved itself to be one of the world’s leading airline groups with a portfolio of successful companies. We’re navigating the worst crisis faced in our industry and I’m confident these internal promotions will ensure IAG is well placed to emerge in a strong position. 

“I want to thank Alex for all that he has done at British Airways. He worked tirelessly to modernise the airline in the years leading up to the celebration of its 100th anniversary. Since then, he has led the airline through a particularly demanding period and has secured restructuring agreements with the vast majority of employees. 

“Sean Doyle has extensive experience at British Airways having worked there for 20 years before moving to head Aer Lingus nearly two years ago where he has done an excellent job. I am confident that will continue at British Airways. 

“Fernando Candela, who has more than 25 years of experience in aviation and excelled at both Iberia Express and LEVEL, joins our management committee in the new chief transformation officer role. He will coordinate change across the Group, focusing on creating a company fit for a different future and ready to take advantage of new opportunities. In the short term, he will also remain chief executive of LEVEL until a replacement is appointed.

“As our new team comes together, we remain focused on making the right operational and strategic decisions for the long-term benefit of all IAG’s stakeholders”.

Exit, the cost-cutter.

With a change of management comes a chance to change the airline. With Alex Cruz’s agenda of reducing costs now in the past, there’s a chance

And of course – those instructions came from someone else. 

It seems with a clear deck, Luis Gallego is trying to stamp his mark on the group as it navigates this pandemic.

But apart from cutting costs, I’ll remember Alex Cruz in a high-viz vest.

 
from the BA IT failure response video.

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