Virgin Atlantic appoints first chief digital and information officer to drive AI transformation

UK long-haul airline Virgin Atlantic has appointed Alex Alexander to the newly created role of chief digital and information officer (CDIO), a move that consolidates the airline's technology, digital development, data, AI, and transformation functions under a single executive for the first time. The appointment reflects a broader shift across the aviation sector towards enterprise-wide AI integration as airlines seek competitive advantage through digital capability.

Travel Weekly reported that Alexander joins on 13 April and brings two decades of experience spanning aviation, retail, and AI-driven digital platforms, including senior roles at Emirates Group, Adevinta, and Yoox Net-a-Porter, as well as leadership positions at WalmartLabs. Most recently, he was founder and chief executive of Xoots, an AI solutions provider focused on talent recruitment.

As CDIO, Alexander will lead technology, digital development, data, AI, and transformation to drive innovation across the business and shape technology strategy at an enterprise level, as a member of the executive leadership team.

Corneel Koster, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, said: "His deep expertise in digital transformation, advanced analytics and AI adoption will further support Virgin Atlantic in harnessing cutting-edge technology to plan smarter, operate more efficiently and serve our customers more personally, alongside our amazing people."

Alexander said: "We have a huge opportunity to accelerate our digital journey and to scale up industry-leading AI capabilities. I'm really looking forward to leading the team as we harness technology to enhance the customer experience, drive operational excellence and power the airline's next chapter."

The appointment follows Virgin Atlantic's recent launch of an OpenAI-powered digital concierge and an ongoing fleet-wide Starlink connectivity rollout, underscoring the airline's investment in technology as a strategic priority.

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