Etihad Airways has announced that Geert Boven, the airline’s executive vice president of customer services and airport operations, has been appointed managing director and a member of the Board of Amadeus Gulf, a joint venture global distribution company owned by Etihad Airways and Amadeus International.
Amadeus Gulf is integral to Etihad’s distribution system, and safeguards Etihad’s position with travel agents and other business partners in the Gulf region.
Boven’s appointment follows the decision by the current managing director Ghulam Saleh Al Balooshi, who has been with Amadeus Gulf since its inception in 2002, to pursue other opportunities.
Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan, said: “Geert is one of our most experienced commercial executives and has played an important role in the development of Etihad since joining the company in 2005. His extensive experience in the aviation and travel industries will be invaluable at Amadeus Gulf.”
Etihad has appointed Chris Youlten as its new vice president of airport and network operations.
Youlten, heading a newly combined airports and operations unit, will be responsible for the operational performance of airports into the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub, and the Etihad network as a whole.
He has more than 25 years’ international aviation experience, including positions in Europe, the USA, Hong Kong and Australia. He joined Etihad in May 2008, initially as head of operations planning before being appointed vice president of network operations.
Hogan said: “Chris has played a key role over the past two years in ensuring the airline’s operational performance kept pace with Etihad’s rapid growth. He has the ideal background for leading the joint airport and operations team.”
