EasyJet taps ex-RBS boss Hester to chair airline as travel recovers

Britain’s easyJet (LON:EZJ) on Monday named former RBS (LON:NWG) Chief Executive Stephen Hester as its chair designate to succeed John Barton, as the budget airline navigates a recovery in a travel industry hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The London-listed company said last month it planned to fly 60% of its pre-pandemic capacity in the July to September quarter compared to just 17% of 2019 levels in March-June, after it shed staff, cut its fleet and took on new debt to survive the crisis.

Hester will take over in December from Barton, who will step down following nine years in the role.

Hester has more than three decades of experience in various industries, most recently serving as the CEO of RSA Insurance, and was praised https://www.reuters.com/article/us-rbs-hester/rbs-boss-hester-to-step-down-this-year-idUSBRE95B0UY20130612 for restructuring RBS in the aftermath of its state bailout during the 2008 financial crisis.

“I am very much looking forward to working with Stephen at this important time in our history,” easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren said in a statement.

EasyJet taps ex-RBS boss Hester to chair airline as travel recovers