Scottish airline Loganair said yesterday it had beefed up its top management team in advance of it flying solo after 24 years of working under franchise deals with other operators.
The new people in the boardroom, both in newly created roles, are finance director David Dishon and commercial director Kay Ryan.
Paisley-based Loganair, whose current franchise partnership with Flybe terminates at the end of August, said the pair brought “substantial transport industry experience”.
Mr Dishon was previously finance and commercial director of the Serco-run Caledonian Sleeper rail services.
Before that he was route finance controller in Scotland for Network Rail.
Ms Ryan is steeped in the airline and travel sectors after senior positions at Thomas Cook Group and, most recently, a spell as commercial director of Eastern Airways.
The new directors join managing director Jonathan Hinkles, chairman David Harrison and Peter Simpson, chief executive of parent company AIL Group, on the Loganair board.
Mr Hinkles said “All of us are very much looking forward to providing the highest standards of safety, punctuality and customer service synonymous with the Loganair name in this new era, and there are many tasks to be carried out to a tight deadline to make that happen.
“It’s important to get the right team in place, and David and Kay have been carefully chosen to play key roles in taking the transition forward.”
Meanwhile, industry body Subsea UK has recruited three new members to its board.
Bibby Offshore group commercial director Nicky Etherson, BP subsea operations manager Zander Bruce and Subsea 7 North Sea and Canada vice-president Phil Simons are all now on Subsea UK’s top team.
Subsea UK chairman Bill Edgar said: “Zander, Nicky and Phil’s input will be of huge benefit to the board as we continue to support our members.”
Another senior-level appointment in the subsea industry sees Bibby Offshore offshore project manager Allan Nairn become the company’s first director of diving.
Mr Nairn, who joined Bibby’s operation in Westhill, Aberdeenshire, in 2010, is now responsible for making sure the firm’s day to day diving operations are carried out safely and efficiently.