Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has appointed Ginger Hughes as Chief Transformation Officer. Hughes brings a long of experience from her advisory role at Seabury, where she has guided SAS through the Chapter 11 process for over a year.
“With a remarkable three-decade-long career advising airlines worldwide, Hughes has been instrumental in shaping strategic transformations, restructuring endeavours, aircraft procurement and financing, cost optimization strategies, loyalty programs, and alliance initiatives. Ginger will be instrumental in driving SAS transformation journey successfully forward and it’s with great pleasure I welcome her onboard”, says Scandinavian Airlines President & CEO, Anko van der Werff.
Hughes assumed her role on September 1, 2023.
Scandinavian Airlines is also announcing the appointment of Dutch native Paul Verhagen as new Chief Commercial Officer. Verhagen brings with him 25 years of executive experience in the airline and hospitality industries, having worked in 11 different countries across Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Asia. His diverse commercial leadership positions include serving as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Iberojet Airlines, as well as holding the role of Senior Vice President of Global Sales Strategy & Channels at Aeromexico. Verhagen also comes with previous Scandinavian experience as he was Regional Director for Norway, Finland & the Baltic States at Air France KLM.
In his new position Verhagen will be responsible for sales across all channels, brand, customer communication and product and loyalty under one organization. This holistic approach aligns with SAS’s commitment to foster growth and drive profitability.
Verhagen assumed his role on August 14, 2023.
“It’s an immense honour to be part of an airline with such a rich legacy and promising future. SAS’s journey resonates with me deeply, and I am committed to contributing to its strategic priorities, from remaining Scandinavia’s preferred airline to championing cost competitiveness and sustainability leadership,” says Paul Verhagen.
