Ex-Jazeera chief left on good terms – source

Former Jazeera Airways chief executive Andrew Cowen left the company after only five months for personal reasons and nothing more, a source close to the airline has claimed.

In February, Cowen was unveiled as the new CEO, charged with plotting the budget carrier’s rapid expansion. But the Kuwaiti airline announced on Wednesday that Stefan Pilcher had been appointed his successor.

No details were given about Cowen’s departure, although a source told Arabian Business on Thursday that it was an amicable parting.

“He left for personal reasons,” the source said, adding that there was definitely no fall out between Cowen and the airline.

When asked if he expected Cowen, the former chief of Saudi low-cost carrier Sama, to return to Middle East aviation, the source said: “He has been in aviation all his life, so it makes sense for him to come back if he’s not already back.”

 Pilcher was appointed following his work with other low-cost carriers. He has held non-executive directorships in several corporations including Deutsche Bank, Steigenberger Hotels in Germany, Grupo Iberostar in Spain and Thomas Cook in the UK and India.

He will be expected to steer the company through continued growth, which has seen Jazeera Airways launch several routes this year.

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