Emirates’ chief commercial officer has turned down an offer to take over as CEO of Air France-KLM Group, insisting that he preferred to stay working with the best possible brand in the airline industry.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market launch, Thierry Antinori, CCO at Emirates revealed that he was approached to replace current CEO Alexandre De Juniac, who is leaving Franco-Dutch airline holding company to run the International Air Transport Association (IATA) lobby group.
“I’ve been contacted but I’m not interested,” Antinori said. “If I stay in the airline industry, which I love, understand and want to stay in, the best possibility to work is for this brand.”
Antinori, who began his 25-year aviation career with Air France, joined Emirates in October 2011 as executive vice president for passenger sales worldwide, and was promoted to executive vice president and chief commercial officer with the Dubai-based airline in June 2013.
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