Fastjet hires finance director with aviation background

FastJet Plc is the holding company for African airline Fly540, which operates from four bases in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Angola. Fly540 currently has 10 aircraft serving around 25 domestic and regional destinations, carrying approximately 750,000 passengers per year with a strong emphasis on safety, security and reliability.

New low-frills African airline Fastjet (LON:FJET) has signed up Angus Saunders as the company’s new finance director with immediate effect.

Saunders, who has a strong background in accountancy and has spent 18 years in the aviation business, will replace Richard Blakesley, the current finance chief.

Blakesley will continue in a consulting capacity to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities.

“We are delighted to welcome Angus Saunders into the Finance Director role,” said executive chairman David Lenigas.

“Angus has extensive experience in the global aviation industry and he will be a welcome addition to the senior executive team going forward.”

Saunders served as chief financial officer of start-up carrier British Mediterranean Airways from 1997 to 2006.

Since then, he has been involved in a number of deals and interim roles in the industry, including with Flybe and low-cost Saudi Arabian airline Nas Air. More recently, he was chief financial officer of Avianova in Russia.

The company said it was always intended that once Fastjet was up and running, Blakesley would step aside and hand over to a finance director with operational airline experience.

Upon his departure, Blakesley will pocket 5 million ordinary Fastjet shares in recognition of his services to the company.