The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that its Board of Governors has selected Tony Tyler, CEO of Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways, in a unanimous decision to fill the post of IATA Director General and CEO following the retirement of the current Director General and CEO, Giovanni Bisignani, next year. The Board will recommend Tyler's appointment to IATA's Annual General Meeting planned for 6-8 June 2011 in Cairo Egypt. Tyler's duties as the Association's head are scheduled to commence 1 July 2011.
"The IATA Board agreed to recommend Tony Tyler as the next Director General and CEO of IATA. Tony's leadership of Cathay Pacific through challenging times prepares him well for the job. His knowledge of Asia will help IATA take advantage of opportunities in the industry's largest market. And his global experience gives Tony the right perspective for our global association. Since taking the helm of IATA in 2002, Giovanni rebuilt the association, restored its relevance and set a very high benchmark for its leadership. Finding a successor was a challenging task for Board's search committee. We are absolutely confident that Tony is the right person to take the association to even greater heights," said David Bronczek, CEO of FedEx Express and Chairman of the IATA Board of Governors.
"The confidence of my industry colleagues in recommending me for this position is a great honor. I am excited at the prospect of leading IATA and fully mindful of the responsibility that this important position bears. Giovanni has made IATA's role critical to the industry by successfully managing IATA's $300 billion financial systems while delivering important industry-wide changes. These include making IATA a quality association with the IATA Operational Safety Audit, delivering 100% e-ticketing with the Simplifying the Business initiative and IATA's leadership on climate change. I look forward to the opportunity to build on this solid foundation. Aviation is a dynamic industry. We constantly have to adapt to changing market conditions, new business models, different traffic patterns and frequent crises. I am fully prepared to lead future changes to help all participants in this great industry be even more successful," said Tyler.
Tyler, 55, has been Chief Executive of Cathay Pacific since 2007. Tyler joined the Swire Group, parent company of Cathay Pacific, in 1977 and has worked with the group in Hong Kong, Australia, the Philippines, Canada, Japan, Italy and the United Kingdom. He is also Chairman of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited and Director of both John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Limited and Swire Pacific Limited. From June 2009 to June 2010, Tyler served as Chairman of the IATA Board of Governors.
"Tony is a great recommendation to lead IATA. His deep knowledge of Asia will help position IATA to deliver even greater leadership in this important region. But I am also confident that the global respect gained during his successful tenure as IATA Chairman in 2009-10 positions him well to fulfill IATA's mission to represent, lead and serve equally all of our 230 members. After nearly 10 years of crises, challenges and change, I will look forward with confidence to handing over the reins of IATA's leadership to Tony in July. Until then, I remain fully committed to leading IATA as it strives to make the industry safer, greener and more profitable," said Bisignani.
