The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has appointed Muhammad Albakri, IATA’s regional vice president for Africa and the Middle East, as senior vice president for customer, financial and digital services (CFDS) effective 1 March 2021, a press release confirmed. Stepping down to make way is Aleks Popovich, IATA’s first cargo head, who will retire after 16 years. 

Albakri, who will be based in Geneva, joined IATA in January 2017 after more than a decade with Saudi Arabian Airlines where he was CFO, CIO and senior vice president for transformation. IATA said that Albakri transformed the Africa and Middle East regional team to better serve member needs and pioneered the work of Digital Transformation Advisory Council. 

“Muhammad is well prepared to guide the development of IATA’s commercial offerings, settlement services and digital leadership. In normal times, these are critical functions—even more so in the middle of an industry crisis,” said de Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.