New interim chief executive for Etihad Aviation Group

Etihad Aviation Group has appointed Ray Gammell as interim group chief executive, and confirmed that James Hogan, current president and group chief, will leave the company on July 1st.

Consistent with the company’s leadership transition plan, Gammell will assume full management responsibilities from today. Gammell is Etihad Aviation Group’s current chief people and performance officer and has been a member of the executive leadership since joining the business in 2009, where he has led the creation of a performance culture across the group.

A parallel handover will occur as Ricky Thirion assumes full responsibilities of the group chief financial officer, James Rigney, who will also leave the company in July. Thirion joined Etihad Airways in 2007 and is the current senior vice president group treasurer.

Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, chairman, Etihad Aviation Group, commented: “Ray and Ricky are experienced leaders and have the complete confidence of the board.

“Ray will now take full management responsibility for the Etihad Aviation Group, ensure a coordinated group approach, and continue to advance the strategic review that was initiated by the board in 2016 to reposition the business for continued development in what we anticipate being a prolonged period of challenges for global aviation.

“We have strengthened our group leadership with recent appointments and are now in the advanced stages of recruitment for a new group chief executive.

“The Board has been very pleased with the calibre of candidates, and we expect to make an announcement in the next few weeks.”

Ray Gammell

Gammell joined Etihad in 2009 as a member of the executive leadership Team, developing and leading the company’s people strategy to create a performance driven culture, enabling the growth of the business and positioning Etihad as one of the most attractive employers globally and in EMEA.

He has been responsible for driving the award-winning Emiratisation strategy contributing to the total Emirati workforce of over 3,000 which is the largest nationality among the 154 nationalities at Etihad Aviation Group.

Gammell has 20 plus years’ leadership experience, gained internationally across the technology, financial and government sectors. He has held executive positions for the Intel Corporation in the US and Ireland, Royal Bank of Scotland, and was an officer in the Irish Armed Forces.