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Reuters
Etihad Airways has delayed the appointment of its new group chief executive to late 2017 with the hiring of a new boss nearly finalised, the airline said on Monday.
In May, Abu Dhabi’s Etihad appointed executive Ray Gammell as interim Group CEO to replace veteran CEO James Hogan who left on July 1. At the time, Etihad said it was in the “advanced stages†of hiring a permanent successor and would make an announcement “in the next few weeksâ€.
A new group CEO has been hired and would be joining after three months. The source declined to be named as the matter is not yet public.
“The recruitment of a new Etihad Aviation Group CEO is reaching its conclusion with the successful candidate expected to start no later than the beginning of 2018,†an
Etihad spokesman said.
The new CEO faces challenges as Etihad grapples with issues relating to its investments in troubled airlines. Etihad began a company wide review last year that has seen funding pulled from Alitalia and Air Berlin, and a stake sold in a third European carrier, Darwin Regional.
Alitalia and Air Berlin have both filed for administration this year.
Etihad continues to hold minority stakes in six airlines from Australia to Europe, including Alitalia and Air Berlin. The new group CEO would likely have to confront a campaign in calling for the US government to take action against Gulf carriers, including Etihad, over allegations they are state subsidised. The Gulf carriers deny the allegations.