Paul Simmons to join Flybe
Flybe announced to the Stock Exchange this morning that easyJet UK director Paul Simmons will join the airline in October as chief commercial officer as part of a major shake-up of the Board at the loss-making carrier.
Simmons, who announced his resignation from easyJet last week, will report directly to Flybe CEO Saad Hammad, a former easyJet executive who was appointed on August 1.
The new appointments follow the airline’s decision to split the role of chairman and CEO, which were both previously held by Jim French, who has now taken up the role of non-executive chairman.
Three directors will now step down from the board. These are managing director UK Andrew Strng, Mark Chown, director of corporate strategy and Mike Rutter, managing director outsourcing solutions. They will continue to report to Hammad.
Chief financial officer Andrew Knuckey has decided it is an appropriate time to step down from the Board, said the airline, and he will leave as soon as a successor can be appointed and a suitable handover period has been completed.
Knuckey, who is looking to pursue a number of finance opportunities, played a lead role in the acquisition and integration of BA Connect in 2007, the IPO on the London Stock Exchange in 2010 and, more recently, the design and implementation of the first phases of the turnaround plan, said the airline in a statement.
It added: "The Board wishes him and his family well for the future and also thanks him for his major contribution over the last eight years."
Simmons will take up his position on October 28.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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