Bruno Matheu Joins Etihad Airways as Chief Operating Officer Equity Partners

Bruno Matheu has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer Equity Partners in the Etihad Airways Aviation Group.

With almost 30 years of senior management experience in the global aviation industry, Mr Matheu joins Etihad Airways after two decades at Air France-KLM.

He most recently served as Chief Long Haul Officer at Air France and previously worked in executive roles across the airline’s commercial, network, marketing and revenue management operations.

“I am delighted to welcome Bruno to the Etihad Airways Aviation Group. The high level of experience and expertise he brings will be critical in addressing the new challenges and opportunities arising from the evolution of our business and the fast-moving, dynamic interaction with our equity partners,” said James Hogan, Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer. “I am confident he will be able to direct our partnership strategy and manage the supportive collaboration between our equity partners to optimise its commercial and network benefits within the geo-political environment in which we operate.”

The French national, who graduated from École Centrale Paris, started his career at Union de Transports Aériens (UTA), the largest wholly privately owned independent airline in France.

Mr Matheu will assume his new role as Chief Operating Officer Equity Partners in December 2014, reporting directly to James Hogan, Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer.

He will lead strategic developments to optimise business performance, revenues and cost synergies between Etihad Airways and its equity partners across the world, and provide strategic leadership for airline partners where Etihad Airways has management responsibility.

Etihad Airways has acquired minority shareholdings in airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus, Air Serbia and Jet Airways, and is currently in the process of formalising equity investments in Alitalia and Swiss-based Etihad Regional, operated by Darwin Airline.