GENEVA — Saadia Zahidi will take over as Director General of IATA effective Nov. 1.

Zahidi will be IATA’s ninth Director General – and the first woman appointed to hold the position. She joins IATA from the World Economic Forum (WEF) where she is a Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board.

Willie Walsh, IATA’s current Director General, will wrap up his duties on July 31. The IATA board has appointed Sandrine Le Borgne, IATA’s Chief Financial Officer and SVP Corporate Services, as Interim Director General for the intervening period.

IATA’s board says it’s “very pleased” to appoint Zahidi as Director General.

“Saadia’s long and outstanding experience at the World Economic Forum will enhance and strengthen IATA as the voice of the world’s airlines,” the board said in a statement.

“Global air transport is a trillion-dollar industry that has and continues to change the world for the better. Saadia’s appointment comes at a moment of significant change in the international environment. Technology and geopolitics, among others, will reshape the industry in the future and Saadia brings the right skills to effectively articulate what our industry needs to continue connecting people and economies safely, efficiently and sustainably. She’ll bring a fresh perspective to IATA that will grow its support for the airline industry on the foundations of IATA’s well-established technical, financial and data capabilities.”

Roberto Alvo, Chair of the IATA Board of Directors and CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, thanked Walsh for his years of service. “I thank Willie for his outstanding leadership that helped IATA emerge from the COVID years stronger and with a more representative membership than ever. We now look forward to Saadia taking IATA’s work to even greater heights,” said Alvo.

Zahidi said her top priority is working with the IATA team and with the industry to build aviation’s future together. “In a rapidly changing world, IATA’s role in bringing the industry together to collaborate through trusted standards, essential services and advocacy has never been more important,” she said.

Lead image caption: Saadia Zahidi, incoming Director General, IATA