IATA names World Economic Forum managing director Saadia Zahidi as its first female leader

<p>Zahidi will be the trade body’s first director general in more than 40 years to come from outside the airline industry. IATA has appointed World Economic Forum (WEF) managing director Saadia Zahidi as its new director general, succeeding Willie Walsh who departs on 31 July to become chief executive of IndiGo. Zahidi will be the…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.flightglobal.com/archive/2026/07/iata-names-world-economic-forum-managing-director-saadia-zahidi-as-its-first-female-leader/">IATA names World Economic Forum managing director Saadia Zahidi as its first female leader</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.flightglobal.com">FlightGlobal</a>.</p>