Ivan Szabo - November 2020
Ivan is a senior executive with a proven track record in delivering large cross-functional programs within the highly regulated aviation industry.
He works as a senior director with SWISS International Air Lines and set up and leads the SWISS Future Intercont Experience Program. He provides leadership, coordination, and management for the new cross-divisional program organization consisting of multiple projects and sub-projects with around 200 members to implement the "New Premium" cabin interiors. The first phase of the program includes the introduction of Premium Economy seats on the Boeing 777-300ER and A340-300 fleets. Key challenges include integrating the timeline of the technical retrofit with the entry into service of the seat class – ensuring not only that all IT, revenue management, sales and marketing activities are completed and ready when the retrofit aircraft are delivered, but also that the flight & ground operations departments introduce the required processes to operate the aircraft in the new configuration. Media Release
In a previous line management role, he was responsible for setting up and leading a new department to harmonize pilot training standards across Lufthansa Group airlines.
As the program manager for the Boeing 777-300ER introduction, he set up, directed and aligned the program organization to ensure the on-time delivery and seamless integration of the Boeing 777-300ER into the SWISS fleet. SWISS B777 first aircraft manufacturing video
Ivan originally studied Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University in Darmstadt, which he supplemented with an Executive MBA from Ashridge in Berkhamsted, UK. This combination of a technical background with the general management knowledge has enabled him to bridge the communications gap between different stakeholders across multiple functions. He achieved his PMP certification in July 2020.
On a personal note, Ivan’s family originally comes from Hungary. They fled Hungary during the 1956 revolution. Ivan was born in Belgium, grew up in the United States and Colombia. He graduated high school went to university in Germany and has been living in Switzerland since 2013. He is fluent in English, German and Hungarian with a working knowledge of Spanish and basic French.
You can learn more about Ivan by visiting his LinkedIn profile.
