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Ella Nethersole
June 18, 2026
Credit: Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways Group has appointed two new executives as it looks to accelerate growth following its recovery from regional disruption.
Abdulla Ali assumes the newly created role of chief operating officer, promoted from senior vice president of ground services. Calum Laming joins as chief customer officer, responsible for bringing the brand and customer touchpoint under one coordinated vision. Both executives join on Nov. 1; they will report directly to Group CEO Hamad Al-Khater.
“These appointments are about what comes next,” said Al-Khater. “With Abdulla and Calum joining our leadership team, we will move faster, sharpen our focus on excellence, and put the customer at the heart of every decision we make. They are also about our people—expanding our ability to develop talent and support the growth of our incredible teams.”
The group said the new hires reflect three priorities shaping its next chapter: a “world-class” passenger experience, network and cargo expansion backed by a modern fleet and its next-generation Qsuite business class product, and sustained investment in people, development and succession.
The news comes as Qatar Airways launched its summer 2026 schedule this week, with more than 140 daily departures to over 160 destinations—reaching the 85% network recovery target set during the Iran war crisis.
