The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce (LA Chamber) and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council will convene senior American and Emirati leaders for a luncheon featuring keynote remarks by Mr. James Hogan, President & CEO of Etihad Airways, in Los Angeles, California. Following scene-setting remarks by the Honorable Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles, Mr. Hogan will deliver a keynote speech highlighting Etihad Airways’ expansion into the United States with non-stop service between Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Mayor Garcetti and Mr. Hogan will be joined at the event by key American and Emirati stakeholders, including honored guests U.A.E. Ambassador to the U.S. His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba and U.S. Ambassador to the U.A.E. the Honorable Michael H. Corbin. For your reference, the honored speakers’ biographies as well as information about Etihad Airways, the LA Chamber, and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, can be found below.

The Honorable Eric Garcetti
Mayor
City of Los Angeles

Eric Garcetti is the 42nd Mayor of Los Angeles. His “back to basics” agenda is focused on job creation and solving everyday problems for L.A. residents.

Garcetti was elected four times by his peers to serve as President of the Los Angeles City Council from 2006 to 2012. From 2001 until taking office as Mayor, he served as the Councilmember representing the 13th District which includes Hollywood, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and Atwater Village — all of which were dramatically revitalized under Garcetti’s leadership.

Garcetti was raised in the San Fernando Valley and earned his B.A. and M.A. from Columbia University. He studied as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford and the London School of Economics and taught at Occidental College and USC. A fourth generation Angeleno, he and his wife, Amy Elaine Wakeland, have a young daughter. He is a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy reserve and is an avid jazz pianist and photographer.

Mr. James Hogan
President and Chief Executive Officer
Etihad Airways

James Hogan was appointed President and Chief Executive of Etihad Airways on 10 September 2006, bringing more than 30 years of travel industry expertise to the Abu Dhabi-based airline.

He has overseen rapid growth of the UAE’s national airline, which now serves 86 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America operating a fleet of 67 modern environmentally friendly aircraft.

In July 2008, he signed one of the largest aircraft orders in history for up to 205 aircraft worth approximately US$43 billion at list prices, to meet the airline’s ambitious long-term growth plans.

CEO Magazine named him Aviation CEO of the Year in 2008 and Visionary of the Year in 2010.

James started his career in 1975 at Ansett Airlines, and subsequently held senior positions with bmi, Hertz, Forte Hotels and Gulf Air.

At Hertz, his roles included directorships of the marketing, sales and operations divisions. In 1995, based in London, he joined the executive management committee as Vice President, Marketing & Sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

In 1997, James became service director for bmi British Midland, leaving in 1998 to join the Granada Group as worldwide sales director, where he sat on the board of Forte Hotels.

He returned to bmi in 1999 as chief operating officer. There he was responsible for flight and ground operations, sales and marketing, commercial, cargo, engineering and handling service companies, and was a member of the Board.

James moved back to his native Australia in 2001, where he was appointed chief executive of the Tesna consortium, which was created with the aim of acquiring Ansett Airlines from administration, before joining Gulf Air in 2002, where he served as chief executive for four years.

James is a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a former non-executive director, and member of the Board’s Audit Committee, of Gallaher Plc. In 2010, he served as the chairman of the Aviation Travel and Tourism Governors at the World Economic Forum. He currently serves as vice chairman on the Executive Committee of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors. Following the acquisition of a majority shareholding in Air Berlin plc, in December 2011, he was named as vice chairman of the airline.

About Etihad Airways:

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, was set up by Royal (Emiri) Decree in July 2003. Etihad Airways commenced operations in November 2003, and in 10 years has become one of the fastest growing airlines in the history of commercial aviation.

The airline has received a range of awards that reflect its position as one of the world’s leading premium airline brands, including ‘World’s Leading Airline’ at the World Travel Awards for five consecutive years in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is the airline’s hub. Etihad’s fleet of 88 aircraft operates more than 1400 flights per week, serving an international network of 84 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. Etihad Airways also owns nearly 30 percent of airberlin, Europe’s sixth largest carrier and 40 percent of Air Seychelles.

The airline seeks to reflect the best of Arabian hospitality – cultured, considerate, warm and generous – as well as enhance the prestige of Abu Dhabi as a centre of hospitality between East and West.

Etihad operates non-stop service between Abu Dhabi and the U.S. cities of New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Non-stop service to Los Angeles and Dallas will commence in June and December of 2014, respectively.

For more information, visit: http://www.etihad.com/en-us/.

About the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce (LA Chamber): 

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of business in L.A. County. Founded in 1888, the Chamber promotes a prosperous economy and quality of life in the Los Angeles region.

For more information, visit: www.lachamber.com.

About the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council:

The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council is a progressive business advocacy organization solely committed to the advancement of the trade and commercial relationship between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The Business Council actively works to ensure that the U.S. and U.A.E. remain attractive destinations for foreign direct investment by conducting effective policy advocacy, undertaking various trade promotion initiatives, providing ongoing updates on the business climate in both countries, and helping develop strategic relationships between U.S. and U.A.E. business and government officials.

For more information, visit: www.usuaebusiness.org.