Saadia Zahidi will join the association in November
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has appointed Saadia Zahidi as its new director general, effective from 1 November. Zahidi joins the association from the World Economic Forum, where she has held several leadership roles during a 20-year career, most recently as managing director and member of the managing board.
Zahidi will be IATA’s ninth director general and the first woman to hold the role. She succeeds Willie Walsh, who will conclude his tenure on 31 July 2026 before joining Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo as chief executive officer.
IATA chief financial officer and senior vice president for corporate services Sandrine Le Borgne has been named interim director general for the intervening period.
Commenting on Zahidi’s appointment, Roberto Alvo, chair of IATA’s board of directors and CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, said: “Saadia’s appointment comes at a moment of significant change in the international environment. Technology and geopolitics, among others, will reshape the industry in the future and Saadia brings the right skills to effectively articulate what our industry needs to continue connecting people and economies safely, efficiently and sustainably.”
Alvo also thanked Walsh for his “outstanding leadership”, which helped steer the organisation through the Covid pandemic.
In a statement, Zahidi said her top priority will be "working with the IATA team and with the industry to build aviation’s future together".