Saadia Zahidi First Woman to Lead International Air Transport Association (IATA)

Saadia Zahidi First Woman to Lead International Air Transport Association (IATA)

Geneva (July 23, VoM News): The International Air Transport Association (IATA) appointed Saadia Zahidi as its new Director General on Thursday, making her its first female leader. Zahidi, of Swiss and Pakistani nationality, will begin her term on November 1. She will succeed current IATA DG Willie Walsh, who will be retiring on July 31.

Zahidi is the Managing Director and a Member of the Managing Board of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

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In her more than 20-year career with the WEF, she was the founder of the institution’s new Centre for the New Economy and Society. IATA also noted that Sandrine Le Borgne will be stepping in as interim DG of the Association, in her capacity as CFO and SVP, Corporate Services, in the interim.

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“I look forward to working with IATA’s member airlines, governments, and partners around the world to elevate the role of global aviation for sustainable development, through collaboration and innovation,” Zahidi said in her first post-appointment comments. IATA has 300+ member airlines.

She will be the ninth individual to hold the post.