Flybmi’s parent company has announced a new managing director and chief operations officer for the regional airline as it sets out a long-term succession plan.
Current chief commercial officer Jochen Schnadt will take the role of managing director from October 11. Interim managing director Tim Shattock, who came in earlier this year to assist in a transition period, will return to Dublin to take up a new leadership role.
Malcolm Sutherland has been appointed as flybmi’s new chief operations officer, having joined from Virgin Atlantic, and will report in to Schnadt alongside other directors.
Schnadt said: “I feel very privileged to have been asked to take on the MD role and to be able to work with the great team that we have to move things forward to the next level. I am also delighted to welcome Malcolm to the team, who with his previous experience in Virgin Atlantic and the Thomas Cook Group will add tremendous value to the Team and effort at flybmi, joining us at this very exciting time.”
Sutherland said: “I’m delighted to be joining flybmi and looking forward to working with all of our operational teams to deliver a great experience for our customers.”
Shattock added: “It has been a pleasure in being part of the flybmi team for the last few months and I am very confident that great things lie ahead for flybmi and its people. I would like to thank everyone in the company and wish the Team every success for the future.”
Peter Simpson, group chief executive of parent company Airline Investments Limited (AIL), said: “I am confident that these appointments will add further strength to the management team at flybmi, as the Company continues to drive expansion in the European regional markets.”
Peter Bond, co-owner of the airline, will assume the position of co-chairman of AIL, taking on a more active role in the day-to-day running of flybmi and Loganair.