IAG replaces BA boss Cruz with Aer Lingus's Doyle

Cruz has stepped down as BA's CEO immediately and will stay as the carrier's non-executive chairman. Doyle, Aer Lingus's chairman and CEO has taken over as BA's CEO and will become chairman after a transition.

Donal Moriarty, Aer Lingus's chief corporate affairs officer, will become the Irish airline's interim CEO. Fernando Candela, CEO of IAG's Level budget carrier, will join the group's management committee as chief transformation officer.

The moves mean Cruz will leave BA after more than four years in charge. He has led the airline through the worst crisis in the aviation industry's history, cutting thousands of jobs and making himself unpopular with unions and politicians.

Gallego took over from Willie Walsh as the CEO of IAG, which owns BA and Aer Lingus, in early September.

"I want to thank Alex for all that he has done at British Airways," Gallego said. "He has led the airline through a particularly demanding period and has secured restructuring agreements with the vast majority of employees."

Doyle worked at BA for 20 years before moving to be Aer Lingus's CEO in January 2019.