British low-cost airline easyJet selected Andrew Harrison, the former boss of UK motor services firm RAC, as its new chief executive on Thursday. Harrison, 48, will replace the airline's long-serving boss Ray Webster, who is retiring in December.
EasyJet has been searching for a successor since Webster announced in May he would be stepping down earlier than scheduled to spend more time in his native New Zealand.
"It is a good choice. He ticks all the boxes. He has financial experience and, crucially, big company experience. It is going to give the company a new lease of life," BNP Paribas analyst Geoff Van Klaveren said.
Shares in the airline rose 1.1 percent to 295 pence by 0934 GMT. The stock is trading near 15-month highs despite record high fuel costs and stiff competition.
Harrison left RAC after the group was taken over by insurance giant Aviva earlier this year for 1.1 billion pounds ($2 billion).
He joined Lex Service in 1996 as chief executive and oversaw its transformation from a vehicle distribution company into RAC plc, a well-known UK services company.
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