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Aer Lingus chief executive Stephen Kavanagh will step down from the role at the end of the year and be replaced by British Airways executive Sean Doyle.<\/p>\nAer Lingus chief executive Stephen Kavanagh will step down from the role at the end of the year and be replaced by British Airways executive Sean Doyle.<\/p>\n
Kavanagh, who will remain on Aer Lingus’s board as a non-executive director, has led the Irish carrier since February 2015. He has overseen its continued growth since its acquisition by BA parent IAG that same year.<\/p>\n
“After a 30-year career in Aer Lingus, with the last four years as chief executive, I’ve taken the decision to step down to pursue other interests,” states Kavanagh.<\/p>\n
“By any objective measure Aer Lingus has been successful in recent years and continues to have significant opportunity to build upon the strong fundamentals of our value model.”<\/p>\n
Aer Lingus posted an operating profit of $306 million in 2017, a fifth consecutive year of improved profits.<\/p>\n
Doyle, who is originally from Cork in Ireland, is currently BA’s director of network, fleet and alliances. He will take up his new role in January.<\/p>\n
IAG chief executive Willie Walsh notes that Doyle has “successfully held a variety of roles within British Airways, acquiring significant expertise and experience, which makes him ideally suited to lead Aer Lingus”.<\/p>\n
Walsh adds: “I am pleased that Aer Lingus chief operating officer Mike Rutter has extended his contract and will work with Sean to ensure that the airline continues to deliver its strong performance.”<\/p>\n