SAS has today announced the Simon Pauck Hansen, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has decided to leave the company after 26 years of service. Mikael Wångdahl, currently VP SAS Link and External Production, will step in as Acting COO.
On Tuesday (December 20, 2022), SAS announced that the carrier’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Simon Pauck Hansen, has decided to leave the airline after 26 years of service. He will be succeeded by Mikael Wångdahl, currently VP SAS Link and External Production, who will step into the role as Acting Chief Operating Officer. The transition will be completed in January 2023. Simon has been instrumental in the implementation and realization of the main components of the SAS Forward Plan, as the carrier enters the next phase of their business transformation.
In Tuesday’s announcement, SAS’ President & CEO, Anko van der Werff, said,
“Simon Pauck Hansen has made significant contributions to SAS during his many years of dedicated service. We are very sad that he has chosen to leave SAS, and I would like to personally thank Simon for our close cooperation and his dedication to the company during my time as CEO.”
Also commenting on his departure from the airline, SAS’ Executive Vice President & Chief Operation Officer, Simon Pauck Hansen, said,
“I started in SAS as a trainee 26 years ago, and I am truly grateful for all the experiences and opportunities offered to me during this time. It has been a great journey to be part of this company and navigating through the ups and downs of this highly dynamic industry. The last three years have required significant sacrifices by everyone in SAS, but I am confident that a brighter future now lies ahead. The time has, however, come for me to hand over the reins. SAS will always hold a special place in my heart, and it has been a very difficult decision for me to make.”
SAS is the leading airline in Scandinavia, normally carrying over 30 million passengers annually from its main hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm to 125 destinations in Europe, the US and Asia (pre-pandemic figures). The company has targeted a reduction in carbon emissions by 25 percent by 2025, compared to 2005 levels, and hopes to transition to 100% biofuel for domestic flights by 2030. SAS also offers ground handling services, technical maintenance and cargo services. The carrier is a founding member of the Star Alliance, which is celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2022.
Source: SAS/Cision