Etihad CEO James Hogan Stepping Down This Year
James Hogan, the president and chief executive at Etihad Airways, said today that he's stepping down from his position at the company in the second half of 2017. Etihad has been struggling financially in recent years, as it tries to keep up with its minority stakes in smaller airlines across Europe and Asia.
As Etihad has grown, it's introduced products that have been flashy and customer-friendly, but not necessarily profitable, such as The Residence and The Apartment. TPG flew The Residence in 2015, which features a living room, separate bedroom and shower — it's one of the most extravagant experiences at 35,000 feet. Watch his experience in the video below:
During his time at Etihad, which began in 2006, Hogan has expanded the airline from a regional offering to a global carrier with more than 120 aircraft in its fleet. Etihad currently has 178 aircraft on order and employs 26,000 people. However, the growth under Hogan's reign was overshadowed by its cash-draining investments in Alitalia and Air Berlin.
Along with the announcement of Hogan stepping down this year, Etihad also announced that its Chief Financial Officer James Rigney will also leave his role. Both Hogan and Rigney will take on new roles at an investment company outside of the United Arab Emirates, which is not linked to Etihad.
There's no doubt Hogan made an impact on the commercial airline industry during his time at Etihad — including introducing some pretty spectacular products. It'll be interesting to see the direction Etihad goes moving forward.
H/T: Flight Global
