WestJet has appointed former Wizz Air executive Diederik Pen as EVP and chief operating officer, the carrier announced.
Pen, who was COO of the Budapest-based low-cost carrier Wizz Air until the end of 2020, will join WestJet in the fall, once he completes the immigration process, according to WestJet. He brings "a breadth of experience [that] spans line management, commercial, operational and leadership roles in airports, for flag carriers and low-cost airlines," according to WestJet president and CEO Ed Sims.
Robert Antoniuk, who was VP of airports and guest services prior to stepping up as interim COO upon the retirement of COO Jeff Martin in February, will continue in that interim position until Pen joins the carrier. He then will move to a new role, as WestJet's chief safety, health and environment officer.
"WestJet has always held safety above all and maintained leading safety performance," Sims said in a statement. "The pandemic has stretched our views to bring the same rigor to hygiene, physical and mental wellbeing and other such areas of health and environment that extend to our people and our guests. Robert's proven leadership capabilities will be an asset to this important work."
Sims last month also announced his own retirement at the end of the year, and WestJet's board is conducting a search for a new CEO.