Icelandair is actively recruiting for its Chief Operating Officer in Reykjavík, Iceland and I applied, here’s why.
If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com.
If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today.
Icelandair Is Hiring A Chief Operating Officer (COO)
I was targeted with a Facebook ad (I’ll call it “recruited”) with regards to an open job position, Chief Operating Officer. As they reached out to me, it would be rude not to take a closer look. I found few details on the Icelandair website (the first thing I will change once I take the helm) but I did find the job offer on LinkedIn.
Here’s what they are looking for:
Icelandair Group is searching for a strong and experienced individual to lead the company’s operations. We are looking for a leader who has a strong passion for working with diverse groups of people to ensure efficient and responsible airline operations. Operations is the most extensive division within the Company, consisting of crew, technical and maintenance operations, airport services and other support functions.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is the Accountable Manager for the company’s airline operations, responsible for the management and safety systems appropriate for the scope of the operations. The COO provides a motivating and enjoyable work environment for employees, enabling them to deliver their very best.
The Chief Operating Officer reports to the Chief Executive Officer, is a member of the Executive Committee of Icelandair Group, and contributes to the implementation of the company’s strategy to reach its short- and long-term goals.
Qualifications:
- Post-graduate education fit for the role (e.g. within engineering, airline operations or finance)
- Experience of airline operations
- Experience of managing quality systems or other management systems
- Outstanding leadership ability and an interest in interacting with others
- Strong capabilities to organize, lead and encourage diverse teams
- Passion to reach success with a clear vision and goals.
Applications are accepted until the end of today, October 3rd, 2021.
Why I Applied
As a matter of full disclosure… I don’t meet all of the qualifications for the role of COO – at least not by Icelandair’s COO job description. I don’t have direct experience in airline operations, which one might think would be key for a member of the senior management team responsible for the day-to-day operations of an airline. I think Human Resources and I can both agree that this is a minor factor.
The position is also located outside the United States, and while I have no problem relocating or remote working, something tells me that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and COO are likely expected to be physically in the office full-time.
Outside of those minor issues, I actually qualify for the position as a job seeker.
Some of this has been tongue-in-cheek, but on a completely serious level, I do think it makes sense for senior executive positions like Vice President, President, and COO to come from outside the industry. My experience managing non-aviation businesses could benefit companies that are used to airline business plans.
To a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Some of what challenges companies like Icelandair (or any other, really) are not unique to airlines. Some of the tools that other companies have found to grow and thrive, can be applied to the airline industry.
I think of the late Herb Kelleher, co-founder, long-time CEO, and chairman emeritus of Southwest Airlines. He was a lawyer prior to starting Southwest Airlines with an oilman and a banker in Dallas as co-founders. They didn’t know anything about the airline industry and found creative ways to solve aviation operational challenges. When asked how he expected to compete with the likes of American Airlines and Braniff, he said that Southwest wasn’t competing with other airlines at all – they were competing with driving.
Analyzing, reframing the problem, and looking for a solution that may be outside of the traditional doctrine is what made Southwest, and Ryanair so successful. The same could be said for JetBlue, and Alaska Airlines too.
With the spirit of Kelleher nudging me forward, I absolutely applied for this high-level position in an industry for which I’ve never worked (but may know a bit about) because I think that what they really need is a candidate who will look at problems and solutions differently than they’ve been viewed in the past.
Conclusion
I do not expect Icelandair to call me to Reykjavík for an interview, though you can rest assured I would go in a heartbeat if they did. But I think there is an important lesson about the industry when they post jobs. Kudos to Icelandair for opening its recruitment outside of the normal channels, but what good will it be to find the best candidates if they can only come from those same channels anyway? At the time of writing, there’s 27 other applicants who applied through LinkedIn, maybe I have a shot.
What do you think? Should airlines, and other travel industry companies, look outside the industry to fill leadership roles? Is this a bad idea? Are you going to apply for yourself?
I put in for the position too, but I just got promoted to president of a fortune 500 company. So if they call, I’m gonna have to turn them down. They will be very disappointed. Iceland seems fun though.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Good for you for going for it, Kyle. No expectations, no disappointment. The worst that could happen is Icelandair says no or ignores your application altogether…
…but the best that could happen — well…
If Brian Cohen is patting you on the back you need to re-evaluate your life choices. This is the dumbest thing I’ve read on the internet today.
Well… to be fair you get into petty arguments with flight crew so you certainly have enough ego and delusion for the c-suite.
@David – Always happy to meet a fan. Thanks for reading.
Look outside the industry? plusses and minuses. Certainly the outside should come from a relatable industry, doubtful government is close enough for example. Inside can clean the skeletons out quicker, And i think it depends on the issues needing addressed.
People who like Kyle: Hope you get the job!
People who don’t like Kyle: Hope you get the job!
(Under their breath) Anything to get him out of Live and Let’s Fly!
Why do aviation writers, particularly from North America, so often get the name of Europe’s largest airline wrong? It’s Ryanair.
@Graeme Boyd – Happy to help. Over here in North America, they don’t charge us for the extra space so we stretch out. Also, we occasionally make mistakes despite an extensive history of correctly calling it “Ryanair.”
I have never seen a candidate that can meet 100% of all requirements of any job description. Those things are written in a way that they can always dream about but know it is almost impossible to check all the boxes. They usually have to compromise. Good luck on your job search.
One requirement they don’t put there in the advert is that your last name needs to Guðmundsson or Gunnarsson. Otherwise, you’re disqualified and they shame you for bring a viking faker.
I think industry outsiders (as a disruptive force that brings about positive changes) are more effective as founders and/or CEO’s, as was the case for Southwest. Anything less, their outside-the-industry-norm ideas are likely to be shot down or handicapped by their insider bosses and peers, unfortunately.
Seriously @kylestewart, why do you even post such an article? Icelandair has been through a heavy beating. Their next COO would have to be female in her late thirties.
All Scandinavian and Nordic companies are very stressed to this matter. Getting either young female executives or someone with a very diverse background.
@Peter Fox – Please tell me more, I am so very confused by the desired age and gender with respect to the ability to do a job.
You’re only a tricenarian so not really sure you have a chance
Darn, had I known about this sooner, I most certainly would’ve applied. Just for s**** and giggles cause I do t meet any of the qualifications unless having been a flight attendant for like a second back in the early aughts counts. Hey, you never know, amirite? I’d love to visit Iceland someday, though.