The group was officially established in 2014 and has since grown to take control of a number of companies.
Etihad Aviation Group chairman, Al Mazrouei said: “Etihad Airways has been steadily evolving into the Etihad Aviation Group for a number of years.
“This has been driven by the formation of new companies, including Etihad Airways Engineering, Etihad Global Cargo Management Company, the Global Loyalty Company, Hala Abu Dhabi, and Etihad Airport Services.
“The acquisition of minority equity stakes in Alitalia, airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Etihad Regional operated by Darwin Airline, Jet Airways, and Virgin Australia, has also necessitated the need for a dedicated team to manage our shareholding, and the delivery of wide-ranging synergies that are beneficial to all parties.”
As a result, former Etihad Airways president and chief executive James Hogan has been appointed Etihad Aviation Group president and chief executive.
James Rigney has become group chief financial officer, Kevin Knight is group chief strategy and planning officer, Ray Gammell has been appointed group chief people and performance officer and Robert Webb is now group chief information and technology officer.
Those reporting to Hogan in his new role include Peter Baumgartner as Etihad Airways chief executive, Bruno Matheu as chief executive of Airline Equity Partners and Jeff Wilkinson who takes up the same role at Etihad Airways Engineering.
Meanwhile, recruitment is also taking place for the new role of chief executive of the Hala Group which has been set up to ensure proper coordination between Etihad Airways and equity partners.
Hogan said: “Etihad Airways today is profitable with a workforce of more than 20,500 people from more than 140 nationalities.
“We have more than 3,000 UAE nationals, reflecting our role as a key enabler and contributor to the growth of Abu Dhabi and its workforce.
“We have strong succession planning in place to ensure that our commitment to Emiratisation constantly strengthens and deepens.
“However, Etihad Airways is no longer a stand-alone business. The Etihad Aviation Group employs more than 27,000 people and these structural changes and appointments will ensure that we have a unified approach that links all parts of the group and provides wider strategic direction to deliver success.
“The new management structure will enable us to maximise opportunities for growth, revenue generation and cost control on a much bigger scale so that the Etihad Aviation Group continues to deliver to its fullest potential and for the benefit of its guests, employees and suppliers.”
