The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that  Saadia Zahidi  has been appointed Director General by the IATA Board, effective November 1, 2026.

Zahidi will be the ninth Director General of IATA and the first woman in this position. She is moving to IATA from the World Economic Forum (WEF), where she currently serves as CEO and a member of the Executive Board.

The necessary skills

Saadia's appointment comes at a time of profound change in the international landscape. Technology and geopolitics, among other factors, will reshape the industry in the future, and Saadia possesses the right skills to effectively articulate what the industry needs to continue connecting people and economies safely, efficiently, and sustainably.

Saadia Zahidia. Who is she?

Zahidi worked at the World Economic Forum (WEF) for more than two decades, serving as executive director and a member of the management board. She founded and currently heads the WEF's Center for the New Economy and Society. Previously, she led the WEF's Global Communications Group and Global Programming Group, as well as the WEF's collaborations with academics, civil society, and international organizations.

Zahidi is the founder and co-author of the WEF reports 'Future of Jobs', 'Future of Growth', 'Global Gender Gap', and the 'Chief Economist Outlooks'. She was a member of the UN Secretary-General's Panel on the Economic Empowerment of Women and of the High-Level Advisory Group of the European Space Agency. She is also the author of the book 'Fifty Million Rising', which traces the rise of professional women in the Muslim world.

Zahidi holds a BA in Economics from Smith College, an MPhil in International Business from the Graduate Institute, and an MPA from Harvard University. She has Swiss and Pakistani citizenship.

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