The International Air Transport
Association (IATA) says its Board of Governors in a unanimous
decision has picked Mr. Tony Tyler, CEO of Hong Kong-based Cathay
Pacific Airways, to fill the post of IATA Director General and CEO
following the retirement of the current Director General and CEO,
Giovanni Bisignani in 2011.
According to IATA, the Board will
recommend Mr. Tyler's appointment to IATA's Annual General Meeting
planned for 6-8 June 2011 in Cairo Egypt. Mr. 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 prepared him
well for the job."
IATA says further that Mr. Tyler's
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, IATA says.
It also continues on Mr. Tyler's
appointment that "finding a successor was a challenging task for
the Board's search committee. We are absolutely confident that Tony
is the right person to take the association to even greater
heights."