Wizz Air Holdings Plc announces the following changes to its Senior Leadership Team structure. Robert Carey has departed the Company to pursue other interests. In the interim, József Váradi, Chief Executive Officer, will assume commercial leadership responsibilities for the next three months.
Effective from 1 October 2024, Michael Delehant, currently Chief Operations Officer, will be promoted to Senior Chief Commercial and Operations Officer based in Budapest reporting to József Váradi. Michael will assume the responsibility for Wizz Air Group's operational and commercial activities. Michael joined Wizz Air in 2021, as Group Chief Operations Officer. He obtained a Bachelor degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan and his MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He has over two decades of executive airline experience in the fields of commercial, operations and strategy, and a long track record of leadership and corporate transformation. After a long career at Southwest Airlines in the US, he joined Wizz Air from Vueling in Europe where he was Chief Strategy and Network Officer.
Diarmuid O'Conghaile, currently Managing Director Wizz Air Malta, will be promoted to Chief Operating Officer to oversee the Group's operational activities and performance, based in Budapest reporting to Michael Delehant. Prior to joining Wizz Air in his current role in 2022, he served as Chief Executive of the Irish Aviation Regulator, as Chief Executive of Malta Air at Ryanair Group and in various managerial positions at Dublin Airport, the European Commission, and the Irish government. He holds multiple Bachelor degrees from Trinity College Dublin in economics and a postgraduate diploma in competition law from Kings College London.
Mauro Peneda, currently Head of Operations Control, will be promoted to Managing Director Wizz Air Malta, based in Malta, reporting to Diarmuid O Conghaile. Mauro joined Wizz Air in 2022 after nine years at the LATAM Airlines Group, where he was most recently the Airports Director of LATAM Brazil. Prior to his time at LATAM, he held positions with consultancy companies. Mauro holds an MSc in Civil Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon and an MSc in Complex Transport Infrastructure Systems jointly from Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon and MIT and a Postgraduate Degree in Business Administration from Fundação Dom Cabral, São Paulo, Brazil.
Subsequently, Silvia Mosquera, Commercial Officer, will report to Michael Delehant.
Commenting on the appointments József Váradi, the Company's Chief Executive Officer said:
"Today's announcement marks significant and well-deserved career advancements for Michael, Diarmuid and Mauro. These promotions underscore Wizz Air's steadfast commitment to promoting from within, based on performance and merit. Their leadership and contributions will continue to drive our success as we progress towards our WIZZ500 goals in the years ahead. At the same time, we thank Robert for his contribution and wish him success in his future endeavours."