Ms. Saadia Zahidi has been appointed IATA’s ninth Director General.
According to the IATA news, IATA’s Board of Directors appointed Ms. Zahidi to the position effective from 1 November 2026.
Zahidi is the first woman appointed to hold the position. She joins IATA from the World Economic Forum (WEF) where she is a Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board.
A holding of Swiss and Pakistani nationalities, Ms. Zahidi spent more than two decades at the World Economic Forum, where she served as Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board.
Zahidi holds a BA in Economics from Smith College, an MPhil in International Economics from The Graduate Institute and an MPA from Harvard University.
She founded and currently heads its Centre for the New Economy and Society. Previously she has led the WEF’s Global Communications Group, Global Programming Group, and WEF’s engagement with academics, civil society and international organizations.
Zahidi founded and co-authors WEF’s Future of Jobs Reports, the Future of Growth Reports, the Global Gender Gap Reports, and Chief Economist Outlooks.
She has served on the UN Secretary-General’s panel for Women’s Economic Empowerment and the European Space Agency’s High-Level Advisory Group.
She is also the author of Fifty Million Rising, tracking the rise of working women in the Muslim world.
IATA’s current Director General Willie Walsh will conclude his duties on 31 July 2026.
Meanwhile, for the time being, the IATA Board of Directors has appointed Sandrine Le Borgne, IATA’s Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Corporate Services, as Interim Director General for the intervening period.
“I am honored to help advance IATA’s mission to represent, lead and serve the airline industry at this pivotal moment. I look forward to working closely with our member airlines, governments and the ecosystem of partners to build on IATA’s remarkable foundation, ensuring aviation continues to connect the world while embracing innovation, strengthening resilience and advancing sustainable growth. My top priority will be working with the IATA team and with the industry to build aviation’s future together,” said Zahidi.
