Star Alliance CEO To Step Down This Year

The CEO of the first and largest airline alliance in the world announced on July 15 that he would be retiring after five years in the position. According to a news release, the alliance head is leaving for unspecified reasons in order to "pursue other interests."

Although Jeffrey Goh became CEO of the Star Alliance in 2017, he has been a part of the company for ten years earlier. Goh started working at Star Alliance in 2007 as General Counsel. From 2008 through 2012, Goh transitioned from General Counsel to Vice President of Corporate Services. From 2012 to 2016, Goh advanced to the position of Chief Operating Officer while continuing to serve as the company's General Counsel.

I appreciate Jeffrey for his leadership and significant contributions to Star Alliance on behalf of my colleagues around the alliance, and I wish him luck in his future pursuits. — Scott Kirby, president and chief executive officer of United Airlines and the Star Alliance.

Goh guided the Star Alliance from its 20th to its 25th anniversary during his five years as the organization's CEO. Goh was also in charge of the automation and digitalization of Star Alliance customers' products and services. These included a biometrics solution, a digital connection service, and a better seat selection process for passengers on itineraries involving multiple airlines. Other significant business activities under Goh's direction include:

Goh's leadership throughout the pandemic is another noteworthy and important accomplishment. While the Star Alliance itself attempted to provide touchless digital connections through the mobile apps of member airlines, oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance joined together to create a "fly with confidence" campaign during the crisis.

Unfortunately, during Goh's tenure as CEO, two airlines would depart from the alliance (Adria Airways and Avianca Brasil). The two airlines' decisions to leave the Star Alliance, however, have less to do with the Star Alliance itself and more to do with the unique circumstances and operating difficulties of each airline.

Name-dropping at this moment would be sheer conjecture. The new CEO of Star Alliance may come from within, though, given that Goh himself held the role for only a few time before rising to the position of CEO. In contrast, anyone from anywhere in the world with a variety of experiences associated to the aviation business could be a candidate for this type of post on the outside, whether they are an airline CEO or legal counsel for an airline or trade organisation.