Coronavirus: BA boss Alex Cruz resigns as industry faces “worst crisis” | Business news



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British Airways CEO Alex Cruz will step down with immediate effect, owner International Airlines Group (IAG) said.

IAG chief Luis Gallego said the restructuring came as the company was going through “the worst crisis facing our industry,” with demand crushed by the coronavirus crisis and the elimination of thousands of jobs.

BA’s new CEO will be Sean Doyle, who will be hired by Irish airline Aer Lingus, also part of IAG.

It was one of a series of management changes announced by the group Monday by Gallego, who took over as CEO of IAG a month ago after Willie Walsh’s retirement.

Gallego said: “We are going through the worst crisis facing our industry and I am confident that these internal promotions will ensure that IAG is well positioned to emerge in a strong position.”

He said that Mr. Cruz had “worked tirelessly to modernize the airline,” adding that he had also “carried the airline through a particularly demanding period and has reached restructuring agreements with the vast majority of employees.”

Doyle, the new head of BA, previously worked at the airline for 20 years before moving to head Aer Lingus two years ago.

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