The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Mehmet Tevfik Nane, Pegasus Airlines vice-chairperson of the Board (managing director)  has assumed his duties as chair of the IATA Board of Governors (BoG).

The role is for a one-year term, effective from the conclusion of the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Doha, Qatar on June 21.

IATA said Nane is the 80th chair of the IATA BoG and has served on the BoG since 2019. He succeeds JetBlue Airways CEO Robin Hayes, who will continue to serve on the BoG.

"I'm honored to take on this position at a time when the industry is emerging from our worst downturn. In addition to maintaining momentum toward re-opening the globe to travel and commerce, we have a very full agenda over the next 12 months," Nane said.

He added that this includes achieving an agreement at the ICAO Assembly on a Long Term Aspirational Goal for governments on aviation's decarbonization — refining the pathway to Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050 and broadening participation in the 25by2025 gender diversity initiative.

IATA said Nane was appointed CEO of Pegasus Airlines in 2016, a position he held until earlier this year when he assumed his current position with the airline.

Prior to joining Pegasus, he served as CEO of CarrefourSA between 2013-2016, as CEO of Teknosa between 2005-2013, and as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Teknosa between 2000-2005. 

Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General, thanked the outgoing Board Chair of IATA noting the difficulties that aviation faced the past two years due to the crippling impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the industry.

"The entire membership owes a huge debt of gratitude to Robin. He assumed the Chair position in November 2020 at a point when international air travel was still largely shut down, and he agreed to extend his term through the current recovery," Walsh said, referring to Robin Hayes.

"Under his leadership, the industry approved the historic goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, worked closely with governments and international organizations to introduce biosafety measures to further reduce the low risk of transmission during air travel, and continued to make strong progress on our 25by2025 gender diversity initiative," he added.

"I look forward to working with Mehmet as we continue to rebuild global connectivity while addressing aviation's vital priorities around sustainability, diversity, regulation, and managing infrastructure costs."

Walsh added that with Nane's experience, he will bring fresh perspectives to IATA.

IATA also announced that RwandAir CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo will serve as chair of the BoG from June 2023, following Nane's term — becoming the first woman to take on the role.

IATA said after Doha, the 79th IATA AGM and World Air Transport Summit will be in Istanbul, Türkiye on June 4-6 2023, hosted by Pegasus Airlines.