Management team

Jim French, CBE
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. French began his aviation career in 1970 with Caledonian Airways Ltd., before joining Air UK Limited in 1980. During his 10 years at Air UK Limited he held senior roles, in commercial, planning and marketing areas.

Mr French first joined Flybe in 1990, becoming commercial director shortly after. He subsequently became deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer. In June 2001, Mr. French was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Flybe, and in 2002 developed the plan which transformed Flybe into Europe’s largest regional airline. Mr. French was appointed Executive Chairman in March 2005. Uniquely, Mr French has been voted “Airline Executive of the Year” twice, in 2002 and 2004, by Regional Airline World. Mr. French chairs Flybe’s Nomination Committee. Mr. French was awarded a CBE in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for “services to aviation”.

Mark Chown, Director of Corporate Strategy

Mr. Chown trained as a chartered accountant with Deloitte Haskins & Sells Limited and spent 10 years in the venture capital industry, including 6 years with 3i plc. Mr. Chown has been involved with Flybe for 14 years and has worked closely with the Board throughout that time. Mr. Chown continues to act as a representative of Rosedale. He was appointed Deputy Chairman of Flybe in February 2005, with responsibility for the Group’s corporate strategy.

Andrew Knuckey, Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Knuckey joined Flybe in 2005. Mr. Knuckey previously had a 24 year career with KPMG LLP, latterly as a partner in audit and transaction services, and has held a number of other finance related positions. At Flybe, Mr. Knuckey played a key role in the completion of the BA Connect acquisition and was appointed as Chief Financial Officer in April 2007.

Mike Rutter, Managing Director Flybe Europe

Mr. Rutter joined ICI plc from university and after 5 years moved to Cape Industries plc (a subsidiary of Charter Plc). Upon leaving Cape Industries plc, Mr. Rutter joined Maytag Corporation’s European Appliance group, where he became vice president of European Marketing and Sales. Mr. Rutter has been responsible for the development of Flybe’s brand, network and its ancillary revenue streams. He was appointed as Chief Commercial Office in 2005, having joined Flybe in 2003.

Andrew Strong, Managing Director Flybe UK

Mr. Strong joined Flybe in 1995 on a Flybe graduate scheme and proceeded to project manage fleet-type evaluation and aircraft introduction, at the same time overseeing several key business development initiatives in the engineering wing of Flybe. Mr. Strong was promoted to become director of Flybe Aviation Services in 2003 and was appointed as Chief Operating Officer in 2005.

Simon Charles, Director of Human Resources

Mr. Charles joined Flybe as Director of Human Resources in January 2007 from RHM Plc where he was group director of organisation and people development and part of the management team involved in the initial public offering of shares in RHM plc. Mr Charles has spent 20 years in human resources within significant companies, having been European Human Resources director at Quaker Oats Limited and held management positions with PricewaterhouseCoppers, Pepsico Inc and Unilever plc.

Mark Elkins, Director of Information

Mr. Elkins’ early career was within finance in the life assurance industry, latterly as a management accountant for Laurentian Life, before moving into the I.T. area with Merchant Investors Limited (then part of the Allianz group). Mr. Elkins gained a breadth of experience across multiple sectors including roles within Diageo plc, Westland Helicopters Limited (then a part of British Aerospace group) and Anite Systems Limited before joining Flybe in 2000. He was appointed to the position of Director of Information in June 2008.

Charlie Scott, Deputy Chairman, Senior Independent Non-Executive Director chairs Audit Committee

Mr. Scott was formerly chairman of William Hill plc from 2004 until 2010. He is a chartered accountant and was previously Chief Executive office at Saatchi & Saatchi plc and chairman of Cordiant plc. Mr. Scott has held other non-executive positions, including with airport group TBI plc. Mr. Scott chairs Flybe’s audit committee.

David Longbottom, Independent Non-Executive Director chairs Remuneration Committee

Mr. Longbottom is currently pro-chancellor and chairman of the board of governors of London South Bank university. He is also currently chairman of Horton International (UK) Limited and senior advisor to the Rose Partnership LLP, both executive search firms. Mr. Longbottom was formerly a senior independent director of Luminar Leisure plc and a director of DSG International plc, and held a number of senior positions within the Dixons Group plc after joining in 1987 (including group human resources director). Previously, Mr. Longbottom worked with British Gas plc, Courtaulds plc and Lloyds of London. Mr. Longbottom chairs Flybe’s Remuneration, Nominations Committees.

Alan Smith, Independent Non-Executive Director chairs Mergers & Acquisitions Committee

Mr. Smith is currently chairman of Fisher Leisure Holdings Limited and Empire World Trade Limited. His career has included being managing director of Superdrug stores plc, B&Q plc and The Victoria Wine Company Limited before working for the Boddington Group Limited as group managing director. In 1996, Mr. Smith moved to Evans Halshaw Holdings plc as group chief executive before becoming chief executive of Somerfield plc from 2000 until 2002.

Peter Smith, Independent Non-Executive Director chairs Safety & Security Review Committee

Mr. Smith was previously chief executive of Menzies Aviation Group plc and a member of the main board of Menzies plc. Prior to this, Mr. Smith held senior positions in various UK and overseas airlines. Mr. Smith chairs Flybe’s safety and security review committee.

Chris Simpson, Company Secretary

Mr. Simpson qualified as a chartered accountant in Scotland before moving into the airline industry in 1985 where he has served as finance director and company secretary of several airlines. Between 2003 and 2007 Mr Simpson was Chief Financial Office of Flybe, and was appointed as Company Secretary in 2010.

John Palmer, Managing Director Flybe Aviation Support

John has worked in the Aviation Industry for 23 years. He has held Senior Management roles in British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Zurich Financial Services and most recently Flybe.

Following the separation of Flybe’s business into three distinct divisions in August 2011, John was appointed to the Flybe Operating Board as Managing Director of Flybe Aviation Support which comprises the Maintenance and Training businesses that service third party customers as well as Flybe across the UK and Europe.

Anita Lovell, Non-Executive Director

Mrs. Lovell is a consultant to Hawksford International and executive director of the Walker Family Office. She has been a practicing solicitor for over 30 years, is a former president of the Association of English Solicitors in Jersey and continues to represent the Channel Islands at the International Lawyers Network based in New York. As a trustee of the Walker Family Settlements and director of Rosedale, she has been involved with Flybe since 1999.

Lord Digby Jones, Non-Executive Director

Lord Jones is a former Minister of State for Trade & Investment and Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), a post he held between January 2000 and June 2006. Currently, he is a Business Ambassador at UK Trade & Investment.

Additionally, Lord Jones is Chairman of Triumph Motorcycles Limited, Grove Industries Limited, Neutrino Concepts Ltd and the Emergency Services Advisory Board of Babcock International Group plc. Lord Jones is also Senior Advisor to HSBC, Corporate Ambassador to Jaguar Cars and a Corporate Advisor to JCB.