The Oneworld airline alliance has hired Emirates executive Rob Gurney as its new chief executive.
He takes up his new role in October after leaving the Dubai-based carrier, where he was senior vice president commercial operations for the Americas, Oneworld said in a statement.
The dual UK-Australian citizen has spent much of his career with Oneworld members British Airways and Qantas.
He joins the alliance as the global aviation industry faces increasing competitive pressures with faltering global growth, terror attacks and increased capacity dampening growth forecasts.
Mr Gurney will succeed Bruce Ashby who said in January he planned to step down in the summer after five years in the job.
Among the 14 Oneworld alliance members are British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines.
Qatar Airways is the only member from the Arabian Gulf.
Mr Gurney joined Emirates in 2014 as its divisional vice-president Australia and New Zealand.
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