Joanna Geraghty to become first female CEO of a major US airline 

by | Jan 10, 2024 | Airlines

This week, JetBlue Airways announced the departure of their CEO, Robin Hayes, effective 12 February 2024. In a press release, Hayes shared this will allow him time to focus on his health and well-being.

It was unanimously decided by the Board that Joanna Geraghty, currently the airline’s President and Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Hayes, having been recognised as a strategic leader in a period of widespread industry disruption. Discussing the upcoming role, Geraghty said:

“I am honoured and excited to serve as the next CEO of JetBlue. With a beloved brand, an industry-leading customer experience, a unique culture, and the industry’s best crewmembers, JetBlue has long been a disruptor. I’m excited to continue working with JetBlue’s 25,000 crewmembers who are as energized as I am about challenging the status quo and bringing humanity to an industry long dominated by the legacy carriers. I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished over the last 20-plus years, and I am looking forward to building on this momentum as we execute on our strategic initiatives, return to profitable growth, and generate sustainable value for our shareholders and all our stakeholders.”

Having joined JetBlue in 2005, Geraghty’s career within the airline includes a role as Executive Vice President Customer Experience, responsible for airports, customer support, and inflight service. She also served as Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer from 2010-2014, following her time as Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Director, Litigation and Regulatory Affairs.

With her appointment in February, Geraghty will make history as the first female CEO of a major US airline, joining the growing list of airlines globally with exceptionally qualified female CEOs including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Air France, and KLM.

The appointment of Geraghty has sparked discussion about the gender imbalance in the industry which is especially clear at the highest levels of leadership. Women currently account for just three per cent of CEOs across the top 100 aviation organisations worldwide. Although initiatives like IATA’s 25by2025 seek to increase the number of women in senior positions, systemic issues hindering women’s professional progression must be rectified before the industry can truly benefit from the advantages of more representative leadership.

 

For more like this see:

 

Also in the news:

easyJet: Combatting the talent shortage by rectifying gender stereotypes Neste establishes a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply chain to Changi Airport British Airways launch Amadeus Biometric Solutions to become the first UK airline trialling biometric tech for international flights Saudia joins the eVTOL race signing MoU with Lilium