WestJet has appointed Jeff Hagen as Vice President of Commercial Development & Strategic Partnerships. The carrier has also promoted Aaron McKay to Vice President – Fleet & Treasurer.
On Wednesday (October 18, 2023), WestJet announced two key leadership team appointments, which will enhance the carrier’s commercial and fleet strategy. First, Jeff Hagen has been appointed as Vice President of Commercial Development & Strategic partnerships. In his new role, Mr. Hagen will oversee the airline’s long-term commercial strategy, while building and enhancing partnerships and driving growth and optimizing revenue. Entering his ninth year with WestJet, Jeff Hagen held prior roles in Corporate Development, Financial Planning and Analysis, Investor Relations and most recently Corporate Strategy and Fleet Planning.
Commenting on Mr. Hagen’s appointment, WestJet’s Chief Commercial Officer, John Weatherill, said,
“In Jeff’s tenure at WestJet, he has held a number of diverse roles across the company, where he has been nothing short of instrumental in achieving key company milestones through his exemplary leadership. As Jeff transitions to the commercial team, his experience and guidance will be crucial in delivering growth, enhancing WestJet’s brand and enabling our low-cost foundation.”
WestJet has also promoted Aaron McKay to Vice President – Fleet & Treasurer, where he will oversee the carrier’s fleet expansion plans, underpinning the company’s strategic direction and further enhancing its low-cost legacy. As a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over 12 years of financial management and capital markets experience, McKay returned to WestJet earlier this year, having previously worked for the airline for more than eight years. He held former critical roles at WestJet in Corporate Planning, Treasury, Investor relations and Financial Planning & Analysis.
Speaking on Aaron McKay’s promotion, WestJet’s Chief Financial Officer, Mike Scott, said,
“I am thrilled to witness Aaron’s diverse and complementary skillset in action in his new role, as he manages WestJet’s most integral assets, our fleet, while balancing our cost management to ensure WestJet’s growth is executed responsibly enabling us to deliver affordable and accessible air travel to Canadians for years to come. Aaron brings with him a wealth of experience in asset and capital management, along with unparalleled leadership skills that will ensure that our low-cost priorities are at the forefront of every decision we make as an organization.”
In 27 years of service, WestJet has cut airfares for Canadians in half and increased the flying population around Canada by over 50 percent. The airline launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five destinations, and has now grown to more than 180 aircraft and 14,000 employees, offering service to over 100 destinations in 26 countries.
Source: WestJet