WestJet announced the planned retirement of WestJet Group Executive Vice-President, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and President of WestJet Airlines Diederik Pen. Timing is dependent on onboarding his successor, but is anticipated for the first quarter of 2027, at the latest. Until then, he will stay fully in charge of overseeing the airline and leading operations teams. A global search for his successor is underway; Diederik is actively involved in the search process and will be supporting a seamless transition.
Diederik joined WestJet in late 2021, leading operations through a period of recovery and supporting the safe restart and scaling of the airline as post-COVID demand returned. Diederik has negotiated several high-impact contracts with labour partners, and has led major operational transitions and transformation, including the successful integration of Swoop and Sunwing Airlines, delivering a more resilient, efficient, and competitive airline. As a respected aviation leader, Diederik has been pivotal in strengthening relationships across the industry, both as the accountable executive with Transport Canada and through his people leadership.
Diederik intends to take some time with his family and to continue to pursue his interest in social impact efforts through his Board involvement with LiveDifferent.
