Porter Makes Executive Changes

Porter Airlines is reorganizing its executive team in order to ensure continuity for its immediate and future development.

Effective immediately, Robert Deluce, Porter’s founding president and CEO, assumes the new role of executive chairman, enhancing his existing responsibilities as a member of the board of directors, while staying engaged in Porter’s core business strategies.

Deluce also remains as the company’s accountable executive for Transport Canada.

The change is supported by a series of realigned executive responsibilities.

Michael Deluce now takes on president and CEO duties. As a founding team member at Porter, he was instrumental in defining Porter’s successful business plan, commercial and brand strategies and has been a key part of realizing that vision in the role of executive vice president and chief commercial officer.

Don Carty has been Porter’s chairman of the board of directors since the company’s founding and will continue in this role.

Said Carty: “A principle responsibility for a board of directors is ensuring orderly succession planning. This transition sees Robert become further involved at the board level, while allowing Michael and other senior leaders to oversee daily business activities. It is a combination of diverse experience and expertise that will serve Porter well in meeting our needs today.”

Robert Deluce said: “My focus as executive chairman is on supporting our reorganized executive team, while still being active in certain key business areas.”

He continued: “It’s important for me to be proactive in giving our leadership team even more direct responsibility for setting Porter’s course and I’m confident that the changes announced today are consistent with the vision we created when the airline launched in 2006.”

Michael Deluce has also been appointed as a member of Porter’s board of directors and he commented: “It is a rare opportunity to be part of the development of a company from the outset and now take on the president and CEO position more than a decade later.”

He continued: “We have an exceptional team in place, from our seasoned management group to our dedicated team members, who believe in what we’re doing to distinguish Porter as a special airline. We’ll work hard to build on this strength.”

Porter’s leadership structure now is as follows:

• With Michael Deluce’s appointment, Kevin Jackson moves to the position of executive vice president and chief commercial officer. Jackson has worked closely with Michael Deluce, most recently as senior vice president and chief marketing officer. In addition to his current responsibilities of marketing, communications, sales, packaged products and information technology, Jackson will also oversee revenue management, airport operations, catering, learning and development, call centre and customer relations. He continues reporting directly to Michael Deluce.
• Paul Moreira remains Porter’s chief operating officer and also becomes executive vice president. Moreira’s responsibilities focus closely on enhancing overall operational reliability in the critical areas of safety, flight operations and maintenance. He oversees safety, pilots, cabin crew, SOCC, technical operations, including maintenance, Porter FBO, and facilities, while reporting directly to Michael Deluce.

Additional roles on Porter’s executive team are unchanged.

• Jeff Brown remains executive vice president and chief financial officer, with responsibilities for finance, people and culture, government relations and legal. Jeff also now reports directly to Michael Deluce.
• Lawrence Hughes remains senior vice president, people and culture, shaping Porter’s culture and leading strategies that enhance team member training and engagement. Hughes reports directly to Jeff Brown, with indirect reporting to the president and CEO.