Newly appointed CEO of LIAT David Evans committed to a more inclusive style of managing the regional carrier when he arrived in Antigua on Sunday.
“The years I have spent in the airline business have taught me that there is no monopoly of wisdom in the CEO’s office, Evans said, according to a press release. The new CEO underscored the value of communication and of listening to staff who are “those closest to the customers and who have the best insight into what the customers want.”
Evans, who was responsible for the Caribbean when he was the Area Manager for British Airways, said he plans to start his duties by listening to the shareholders, staff, customers and LIAT stakeholders “who definitely know the airline much better than I do.”
Regarding LIAT’s re-fleeting process, Evans said the new ATC aircraft represents a major opportunity to enhance the in-flight experience, and that LIAT’s route network makes it a very attractive partner to international carriers.
“I want to focus on what we do well, and what we can do better,” he said, noting that putting in place some small wins to improve performance while laying down longer term plans will be part and parcel of this approach.
According to the press statement, Evans is a “results driven executive” with more than 35 years of experience in senior roles within the aviation industry. He speaks Spanish, French, German and Mandarin Chinese and holds an MBA in Business Administration from Lancaster University and combined honours in Modern Languages from Wadham College, Oxford University, England. He assumes the chief executive responsibilities from Julie Reifer-Jones who had been acting CEO since the resignation of Ian Brunton in September 2013.
