Structural changes at Icelandair Group

Icelandair Group CEO Björgólfur Jóhannsson: “We have in recent months been working on an extensive analysis of the Company’s business, its strategy and future focus. A large group has been involved in this work over the past months, including some 600 employees of the Company. The changes we are making now are the results of this work. The objective is to sharpen still further the focus in our sales and marketing, on the one hand, and services to customers on the other hand, thereby strengthening the Company for the future.”

A new division, Customer Experience, will take over all aspects of the Company’s operations relating to customers’ experience of Icelandair’s services. Birna Ósk Einarsdóttir, who joined the Company at the beginning of the year as Chief Business Development Officer, will lead the new division. Among other things, the division will be responsible for on-board services, frontline services, the customer loyalty programme, ancillary revenue and product development. At the same time, digitalization and data processing will become a part of the division, as well as strategic planning and business development.

The operations of Icelandair’s Sales and Marketing division and Icelandair Cargo will be lead by the Chief Commercial Officer. Gunnar Már Sigurfinnsson, who has been MD of Icelandair Cargo for the last ten years, will be Chief Commercial Officer. He served as SVP of Sales and Marketing at Icelandair from 2005-2008. Following the changes, Sales and Marketing will assume responsibility for the Company’s sales in all markets, marketing affairs, revenue control, pricing, route network and distribution.

The change will reduce the Company’s Executive Committee by one member. Guðmundur Óskarsson, who has served as Chief Commercial Officer, will leave the Committee. He will continue to work for the Company.

About Birna Ósk Einarsdóttir and Gunnar Már Sigurfinnsson:

Birna Ósk Einarsdóttir joined Icelandair in January 2018 as Chief Business Development and Strategy Officer. She previously served as Executive Vice-President of Marketing and Business Development for Landsvirkjun. She worked as an executive for the IT company Síminn from 2011, most recently as head of sales and services. Birna worked for Síminn from 2001.

Gunnar Már Sigurfinnsson was appointed MD of Icelandair Cargo in May 2008. Before that time, he was SVP of Sales and Marketing at Icelandair from 2005-2008. Gunnar Már worked as General Manager of the Germany, Netherlands & Central Europe regions from 2001-2005 and he was Sales Officer for Icelandair in Germany from 1997-2000. Gunnar has served in various other positions within the Company from the year 1986.