ST JOHN’S, Antigua  (CMC) – The cash-strapped regional airline LIAT, Tuesday announced the appointment of Barbadian Julie Reifer-Jones as its new chief executive officer, more than a year after Englishman David Evans quit the post.

Reifer-Jones, an accountant, is the first woman to be appointed to the top post at the airline, whose major shareholders are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

LIAT said that prior to joining the airline as chief financial officer in 2008, Reifer-Jones held several senior finance positions and has more than 25 years of experience in the fields of finance and management.

“Reifer-Jones has served at LIAT in the number two position for some nine years and in that capacity has acted as CEO for extended periods on several occasions,” said the airline’s chairman, Dr Jean Holder.

“In addition to her familiarity with the people and culture of the region and her intimate knowledge of the company, her financial and academic qualifications should complement the practical experience of the airline industry she has acquired on the job. I wish her well as she undertakes one of the most challenging assignments in the region,” he added.

Reifer-Jones said she was delighted with the appointment and is looking forward to delivering an improved level of service from LIAT to the region.

In a March 30 email to the airline’s staff, Reifer-Jones said that LIAT “is going through a difficult financial situation and has implemented a schedule of delays for salaries for all employees over the next five months”.

She said the financial delays are affecting all airline employees, including the executive team and that the airline expects that the situation should improve by the summer months.