The Monarch Group appoints Andrew Swaffield as Managing Director of Monarch
by Monarch group from press release
| 2014/04/09 | 408 words
| AVIATION WORLD NEWS | AIR TRANSPORT
The Monarch Group, the UK’s leading independent travel group, today announces the appointment of Andrew Swaffield as Managing Director of its scheduled airline,Monarch Airlines, with effect from 1 April 2014.
Andrew joins Monarch Airlines from Avios Group Limited, where he was Managing Director for seven years from 2006. Under Andrew’s leadership,Avios launched the new global single currency for International Airlines Group (IAG), which owns Avios Group Limited, and the new Avios brand in 2011.He has over 25 years’ management experience in travel, aviation and airline loyalty gained with Thomas Cook and British Airways (since 1994) where he headed leisure sales in the UK and Ireland, as well as running its travel agency and tour operating subsidiaries.
Executive responsibility for the airline will be passed to Andrew from Iain Rawlinson, Executive Chairman of The Monarch Group, who assumed interim responsibility for the airline in November 2013 pending Andrew’s appointment. Iain remains Executive Chairman of The Monarch Group.
Commenting on Andrew’s appointment, Iain Rawlinson said:
“I am delighted to welcome Andrew to Monarch Airlines, at anexciting time both for the Airline and for the Group.His deep understanding of the travel industry, where he is a recognised authority on customer loyalty and where he has a proven track record in leadership and the creation of stakeholder value, will help us build on the foundations laid by the successful turnaround of the Group’s performance over the last two years.
“Andrew is very well qualified to deliver Monarch’s commitment to providing superior customer experience and value to its airline customers. I very much look forward to working with Andrew and his team as we further develop our plans to renew our fleet and expand our airline network.
“Andrew’s appointment is important and completes the progressive strengthening of Monarch Airlines’ senior management team over the last 18 months.”
Andrew Swaffield said:
“I am delighted to be joining Monarch Airlines as Managing Director at this time. Much of the modernisation of the business is now complete, and the opportunity to lead the next phase of reinforcing its differentiated market position is very exciting.
“The company is clearly focused on delivering superior customer service, building on its 45 year history. The planned investment in new aircraft, the expansion of its flying network and key supporting relationships - all underpinned by an effective communications strategy - is very compelling. I am looking forward to joining the Group and working with the existing airline management team.”
Andrew joins Monarch Airlines from Avios Group Limited, where he was Managing Director for seven years from 2006. Under Andrew’s leadership,Avios launched the new global single currency for International Airlines Group (IAG), which owns Avios Group Limited, and the new Avios brand in 2011.He has over 25 years’ management experience in travel, aviation and airline loyalty gained with Thomas Cook and British Airways (since 1994) where he headed leisure sales in the UK and Ireland, as well as running its travel agency and tour operating subsidiaries.
Executive responsibility for the airline will be passed to Andrew from Iain Rawlinson, Executive Chairman of The Monarch Group, who assumed interim responsibility for the airline in November 2013 pending Andrew’s appointment. Iain remains Executive Chairman of The Monarch Group.
Commenting on Andrew’s appointment, Iain Rawlinson said:
“I am delighted to welcome Andrew to Monarch Airlines, at anexciting time both for the Airline and for the Group.His deep understanding of the travel industry, where he is a recognised authority on customer loyalty and where he has a proven track record in leadership and the creation of stakeholder value, will help us build on the foundations laid by the successful turnaround of the Group’s performance over the last two years.
“Andrew is very well qualified to deliver Monarch’s commitment to providing superior customer experience and value to its airline customers. I very much look forward to working with Andrew and his team as we further develop our plans to renew our fleet and expand our airline network.
“Andrew’s appointment is important and completes the progressive strengthening of Monarch Airlines’ senior management team over the last 18 months.”
Andrew Swaffield said:
“I am delighted to be joining Monarch Airlines as Managing Director at this time. Much of the modernisation of the business is now complete, and the opportunity to lead the next phase of reinforcing its differentiated market position is very exciting.
“The company is clearly focused on delivering superior customer service, building on its 45 year history. The planned investment in new aircraft, the expansion of its flying network and key supporting relationships - all underpinned by an effective communications strategy - is very compelling. I am looking forward to joining the Group and working with the existing airline management team.”
