Aer Lingus appoints new directors

Aer Lingus is bringing fresh faces to its board, including the former president and chief executive of Air Canada.

Aer Lingus is bringing fresh faces to its board, including the former president and chief executive of Air Canada.

Airline veteran Montie Brewer, who has been appointed one of Aer Lingus's new independent non-executive directors, is currently a non-executive director of US-based Allegiant Travel Company, and has previous experience of successfully implementing similar changes currently being undertaken at Aer Lingus. He was a director of Air Canada until April last year.

A second post will be filled by Nicola Shaw, who is currently a director with transport company FirstGroup. Ms Shaw previosuly worked with the UK Strategic Rail Authority and the Office of the Rail Regulator.

Aer Lingus chairman Colm Barrington said the new directors' knowledge, expertise and experience of the airline and transport sectors would make a "major contribution to our board".

Last week, it was announced that deputy chief executive and chief operating officer Niall Walsh was leaving the company immediately to pursue other interests. Chief executive Christoph Mueller has taken over the chief operating officer duties at the company while the company searches for an external successor.

Aer Lingus is attempting to cut €97 million from its annual costs and cut hundreds of jobs. It has agreed the plan in principle with 3,000 workers, and pilots earlier this month voted to accept a €30 million cost-savings package which will result in 76 redundancies and a 10 per cent pay cut.

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien is an Irish Times business and technology journalist