Willie Walsh Becomes Chairman of IATA Board of Governors

Willie Walsh, CEO of International Airlines Group (IAG), has succeeded Andres Conesa, CEO of Aeromexico, as Chairman of the IATA Board of Governors (BoG).

Walsh, who represents British Airways (BA) on the IATA BoG, takes up his duties immediately for a one-year term until the conclusion of IATA’s 73rd AGM.

Walsh is the 75th Chair of the IATA BoG and the sixth to fulfil that function while representing BA or its predecessor airlines. He has served on the IATA BoG continuously since 2005.

"I’m honored to serve in this important role at such a critical time. Our top priority is getting governments’ agreement on a global market-based measure to manage aviation’s carbon emissions at the 39th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization later this year. This is a once in a generation opportunity which is vital if our industry is to achieve carbon neutral growth from 2020," said Walsh.

The Board also appointed Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, to serve as Board Chair-elect for a one-year term as from the close of the 2016 AGM and to take office from June 2017 following Walsh’s term.

See also: Alexandre de Juniac to Succeed Tony Tyler as IATA’s Director General and CEO.

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