Etihad Airways announces three key UAE executive appointments

Etihad Airways has announced the appointment of three UAE nationals to executive positions within the airline.

Hareb Al Muhairy becomes senior vice president corporate and international affairs; Mohammed Al Bulooki joins Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi Airports Company to become vice president UAE commercial; and Haitham Al Subaihi becomes Vice President UAE Sales.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways' president and chief executive officer, said: “We are delighted to announce these key executive appointments which will have a significant impact on the development of the airline's Corporate and International Affairs and Commercial departments. “Hareb has a wealth of experience and expertise in media relations and international and government affairs and is ideally suited to lead Etihad Airways in this crucial area of the business.

“Mohammed and Haitham have a deep knowledge of the aviation business, particularly in this region, and this knowledge, combined with the understanding of the UAE market, will be of great value to Etihad Airways as we continue to expand our business. “It's also pleasing that Hareb and Haitham both started their careers with Etihad Airways and have progressed impressively up through the company to the positions they hold today.”

Hareb Al Muhairy moves from the position of vice president sales UAE to his new senior vice president role – overseeing corporate affairs and international and public affairs.

Reporting to James Hogan, Al Muhairy now has responsibility for external and internal corporate communications, international corporate affairs, media relations, and corporate social responsibility. He will also take a lead role in strengthening relations with key governmental and regulatory bodies worldwide through the work of the International and Public Affairs team.

Prior to joining the Commercial division, Al Muhairy had served as Vice President Corporate Communications between 2009 and 2010. Al Muhairy joined Etihad Airways in 2004 having studied political science and management at the UAE University in Al Ain. He also holds a Master Degree in Strategic and Security Studies gained in 2015 from the National Defense College.

Al Muhairy is a Board Member of Abu Dhabi Media Company, Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council, Abu Dhabi National Hotel Company, and Abu Dhabi Tourism and Cultural Authority.

Mohammed Al Bulooki joins from the post of chief commercial officer at Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), a position he had held since 2011. Within the new role of vice president commercial UAE, Mohammed will be responsible for UAE Sales, Hala Travel Management (HTM), the destination management company Hala Abu Dhabi, Etihad's retail operations, Etihad Holidays as well as the airline's Tourism Research and Partnerships function.

He joined ADAC in 2008 from Etihad Airways, where he held a number of sales roles in the UAE and the United Kingdom. During his career Al Bulooki has held a number of key Abu Dhabi Airports Company posts including VP Al Bateen Executive Airport; general manager, Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies and VP, Airline Marketing & Aeronautical Revenue. He began his career in 1998 at GAMCO, now Etihad Engineering, as an apprentice aircraft engineer. Mohammed holds a BEng in Air Transport Engineering from City University in London as well as a Diploma in Aircraft Engineering from Abu Dhabi Men's College. He has also attended courses by Airbus, Boeing, IATA, and Harvard University. Haitham Al Subaihi moves from the role of Head of UAE Sales to become vice president UAE sales.

Al Subaihi began his career with Etihad Airways in 2007 as a Graduate Management trainee. In 2009, he served as Business Development Manager for North America, based in New York, before returning to the UAE to take the role of Manager Sales – Government. Al Subaihi went onto to be vice president sales central USA, based in the airline's Washington, DC office. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from Richmond American International University in London.