Saadia Zahidi has been appointed IATA's next Director General, becoming the ninth person to hold the post and the first woman to lead the organization. She will assume the position on November 1, 2026, with current Director General Willie Walsh set to conclude on July 31, 2026, and Sandrine Le Borgne named Interim Director General in the interim period. Zahidi comes from the World Economic Forum, where she served as managing director and led initiatives including the Future of Jobs and Global Gender Gap reports. Her appointment is framed as strengthening IATA's leadership amid rapid technological, geopolitical, and industry changes, with a focus on collaboration with member airlines, governments, and partners to advance sustainable growth. Zahidi holds degrees from Smith College, The Graduate Institute, and Harvard University, and has Swiss and Pakistani nationalities. The move reflects IATA's aim to navigate evolving global aviation challenges while sustaining growth and advocating for industry standards and policy coordination.