The airline is enhancing their senior management team with the appointment of two experienced airline industry executives. Robert Carey will join Wizz as President on June 14, 2021, while Michael Delehant will become EVP and Group COO from April 1, 2021.
On Wednesday (December 9, 2020), Wizz Air Holdings Plc (Wizz Air) announced the appointment of two senior executives to take place during the first half of 2021. Robert Carey will join the company as President effective June 14, 2021 and will report to Wizz Air’s Chief Executive Officer, József Váradi. In his new position, Robert Carey will oversee Wizz Air’s operations and commercial functions and lead the company’s strategy, growth, cost control, and operational results.
Mr. Carey is a dual American and French citizen and has a B.S. from Arizona State University as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School. Robert Carey started his aviation career twenty years ago with America West Airlines and later with Delta Air Lines, followed by a decade of service as a partner with McKinsey and Company. Mr. Carey joins Wizz Air from easyJet where he has served as Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer since 2017.
Next, Michael Delehant will be appointed Executive Vice President and Group Chief Operations Officer effective April 1, 2021. Mr. Delehant will be a member of Wizz Air’s executive team based in Budapest and will report to the new company President from July. During the interim period, he will report directly to the company CEO, József Váradi. Mr. Delehant will be responsible for overseeing the company’s operational activities and performance in accordance with regulations and safety requirements, financial budgets and company procedures.
Michael Delehant is an American citizen with a B.S. is Psychology from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He brings two decades of executive airline experience and a history of leadership, strategy and corporate transformation. Following a long career with Southwest Airlines, Mr. Delehant joins Wizz Air from Vueling, where he served as Chief Strategy and Network Officer. Delehant will replace the company’s current EVP and Group COO, Diederik Pen, who is stepping down to pursue interests outside of the company.
Commenting on the new appointments, Wizz Air’s Chief Executive Officer, József Váradi, said,
“Today's announcements underline Wizz Air's investment in the future. We are further enhancing our leadership capacity as Wizz Air continues to demonstrate outstanding agility in the pursuit of being the ultimate structural cost winner in the industry. This has been an unprecedented year for aviation, yet Wizz Air has displayed rigorous cost control and a process-driven weighed decision-making that resulted in us being one of the best positioned airlines in Europe today. I would like to thank Diederik for his relentless commitment and personal leadership in the past 8 years. He has been instrumental to the development of the airline and led the induction of 100 aircraft in the WIZZ fleet. I wish him and his family all the best in their future endeavors. I am pleased to welcome Robert and Michael on board of this exciting journey. The gentlemen bring valuable expertise and new energy to drive our aggressive growth agenda in the years to come.”
Budapest, Hungary-based Wizz Air serves 155 destinations across 45 countries and operates an all Airbus fleet of 134 A320 and A320/21neo Family aircraft, with an average age of five years. Wizz Air is the largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in Central and Eastern Europe offering over 710 routes from 38 bases. During FY 20 (ending March 31, 2020) the airline served approximately 40 million guests. Wizz Air offers superior guest service at exceptionally low fares and trades on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WIZZ.
Source: Wizz Air Holdings PLC (RNS Number: 0523I)