Walsh accepted the role at IATA’s 76th Annual General Meeting today. He becomes IATA’s eighth Director General from April 1, 2021.
“I would like to thank the Board of Governors for nominating me and you, the members of IATA for ratifying my appointment as Director General from April of next year. I am honoured to be confirmed in the role," said Walsh.
During his acceptance speech, Walsh commented on the challenges the sector has faced this year, concluding in a positive vein. "To quote George Bernard Shaw: “Progress is impossible without change and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, friends and colleagues, we have a lot of minds to change and I look forward to working with you to do just that. Thank you for your trust and for your confidence.”
Current Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac is to step down from his position on March 31, 2021. He made known his intention to leave the association several months ago, enabling the search for his replacement to commence.
“I did not come to this decision lightly. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve the global air transport industry—what I call the business of freedom—as the head of IATA," de Juniac said at the time of announcing his departure.
Commenting on the challenges thrown up by COVID this year, he added: "We have restructured IATA to survive the crisis and be ready to support the industry recovery with an organisation dimensioned to serve a smaller industry. And we have a motivated team that is determined to get the job done.
"The building blocks for an industry recovery are in place. And now is the right time to hand over IATA’s leadership for the long process of recovery."