The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the appointment of Philip Goh as its regional vice president for Asia Pacific with effect from September 13.

Goh, a 34-year veteran of the airline industry, will succeed Conrad Clifford, who has been IATA’s deputy director general since 1 July of this year. He will be based in Singapore where he will lead the trade group’s activities across Asia Pacific, a region covering 37 countries and territories and home to 45 member airlines.

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Prior to joining IATA, Goh held various senior management roles at Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Most recently, he was SIA’s regional vice president for the south west pacific, based in Sydney.

Goh says top priorities include engaging governments to safely re-open borders, reviving the travel and tourism economy, and restoring the people-to-people connections that travel facilitates.