Jet2 chooses new leader as its founder vacates one of his jobs
LEISURE airline and holiday firm Jet2 has picked Steve Heapy as its new chief executive as founder Philip Meeson takes a back seat.
Heapy, most recently the chief commercial officer at Jet2.com and managing director at Jet2 Holidays, has been with the firm since 2009.
Meeson will become executive chairman at the airline, while keeping his roles as chairman and chief executive at Dart Group, the firm’s Aim-listed parent. The airline said he will “continue to play an integral role” at the company he created.
The 64-year-old former RAF pilot bought what became Jet2 in 1983. He turned Express Air Services, a Channel Islands carrier transporting flowers and other fresh produce to mainland Britain, into an international aviation and haulage group.
“I am pleased to be able to continue driving the businesses forward in this new role,” said Heapy yesterday.
Jet2 is also looking for a finance director to replace Andrew Merrick, who is leaving to join law firm Irwin Mitchell in April.