De Rome announced as Etihad's new senior VP

She joins from Australia’s Qantas Airways, which she joined in 1995.  Prior to Qantas de Rome worked in public relations and corporate affairs at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia for eight years.

James Hogan said: “To be the best airline in the world it is vital that Etihad recruits the best staff and we are delighted to welcome Belinda to the airline. Her experience and expertise in the field of communications are set to make a significant contribution in Etihad’s growth.”

Etihad said de Rome has extensive experience in crisis communication, internal communication and event management. Among many achievements at Qantas was de Rome’s communications strategy for the delivery of its first Airbus A380 aircraft.

Belinda de Rome said: “I am thrilled to join Etihad Airways and have the opportunity to play a key role in communicating the airline’s exciting and ambitious development. The Etihad corporate communications team has done a great job in raising the profile of the airline and I look forward to taking this to new heights.

“Increasingly the focus of the aviation industry is in the Middle East and Etihad has prime position to become not only the best in the region, but across the world.”

De Rome will take up her new role on Sunday 16 August. She will lead a team of team of nine PR, media relations and internal communications professionals in the department.