Calgary-based WestJet announced late Thursday afternoon that the airline will undergo changes to its executive leadership team.
Bob Cummings, executive vice-president of strategy and guest services, will retire effective July 31 and Cam Kenyon, executive vice-president of operations, is leaving to return to the United States effective Aug. 31.
The company said Charles Duncan, executive vice-president and president of WestJet Encore, has been appointed executive vice-president and chief strategy officer effective Aug. 1.
“Bob Cummings has served as an EVP for more than 12 years and in that time the airline successfully grew revenues from $1 billion to more than $4 billion,” said Ed Sims, WestJet president and CEO, in a statement. “His guidance and experience have been invaluable to us all. I thank Bob for his many contributions and wish him well in his next chapter.
“Cam Kenyon is returning to Denver to be with his family and we are grateful that he extended his contract twice to lead us through WestJet’s transition to a global, full-service carrier and our labour negotiations. I thank Cam for the wealth of experience he has brought to the role.
Charles Duncan
“WestJet has reached a critical juncture as we look to significantly expand our global network. In his role as chief strategy officer, Charles Duncan will be responsible for providing the leadership necessary to ensure that WestJet’s strategic goals are met.”
WestJet said Duncan previously worked for more than 20 years at United and Continental Airlines in a variety of commercial and operational roles before joining WestJet in June 2017 as executive vice-president and president of WestJet Encore.
The company said John Aaron, vice-president of flight operations for WestJet Encore, will assume the role of vice-president and general manager of WestJet Encore, reporting to the executive vice-president and chief operations officer.
“Global searches are underway for both the chief commercial officer and chief operations officer,” the company said in a news release.
Respected business writer Mario Toneguzzi is a veteran Calgary-based journalist who worked for 35 years for the Calgary Herald in various capacities, including 12 years as a senior business writer.
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