The Swiss Board of Directors has appointed Jens Fehlinger as the new CEO. The 43-year-old will take up his post on October 1, 2024, succeeding Dieter Vranckx, who is moving to the Executive Board of the Lufthansa Group. Fehlinger began his career as a pilot and has worked in various management positions within the Lufthansa Group. He is currently Managing Director of Lufthansa City Airlines.
Fehlinger has extensive experience in the aviation industry and has, among other things, headed the strategy and business development of Lufthansa Airlines as well as the operational performance management of the Lufthansa Group. During the Corona pandemic, he was responsible for the Lufthansa Group's crisis management office and led the restructuring project ReNew. In addition, as managing director, he built up the new airline Lufthansa City Airlines.
Fehlinger studied aviation systems engineering and management in Bremen and transportation in Darmstadt, and earned an Executive MBA from IE Business School Madrid. He is married and has two children.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Swiss, Reto Francioni, emphasized that Fehlinger, with his extensive experience and strategic expertise, is the right candidate for the position. Until he takes office, Heike Birlenbach will act as CEO ad interim.