Stobart Air hires former Ryanair and BMI Baby executives

Aer Lingus

regional operator

Stobart Air

is recruiting former

Ryanair

and BMI Baby directors to its management and board in a shake-up that will

mean interim chief executive Seán Brogan moving to the company’s chairmanship.

Aer Arann, the sub-contractor that flies Aer Lingus's regional services in Ireland and Britain, recently changed its name to Stobart Air and also took on a second franchise service for UK carrier Flybe.

The Irish-based airline is announcing today that Julian Carr will take over as managing director of the business from May 6th. He held the same role at British Midland's low-cost subsidiary, BMI Baby, which was wound up in 2012 after International Airlines Group took over its parent.

Mr Carr is joining Stobart after completing a stint as chief executive of the British arm of US group National Amusements, the film and TV business that controls CBS and Paramount Pictures, and operates several cinema chains.

Mr Brogan, who has been acting managing director since the Stobart group and several investors rescued the airline from examinership in 2010, becomes chairman. The company wants to develop franchise agreements, similar to those it has with Aer Lingus and Flybe, with other airlines. Since it emerged from examinership with Mr Brogan at the helm, it has revamped and expanded its fleet.

Senior posts
One-time Ryanair commercial director

Tim Jeans is joining the board as a non-executive. He is a former managing director of Monarch Airlines, and held senior posts at Mytravel Airways and Manchester Airport.

A second non-executive, Yvonne Denney, comes from a completely different background, in financial services, where she worked as a senior executive for reinsurer, GE Re, now known as Swiss Re.