The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Karen Clayton will join IATA as the Association’s Corporate Secretary effective April 2019. Clayton comes to IATA from Air New Zealand where she has held the role of General Counsel and Company Secretary since 2016.
As Corporate Secretary, Clayton will ensure the integrity of IATA’s governance framework, including management of the Association’s Board of Governors and its various committees. The IATA Board of Governors is elected by the Association’s 290-strong membership and consists of CEOs from 31 airlines and IATA’s Director General and CEO.
As a member of IATA’s Strategic Leadership Team, Karen will also support the Director General and CEO with advice and input on IATA’s strategic plans and industry initiatives.
Karen will take over IATA’s Corporate Secretary role from Paul Steele who is currently IATA’s Corporate Secretary and Senior Vice President for Member and External Relations. When Karen joins IATA in April 2019, Steele will focus on strengthening IATA’s advocacy activities in his continued role as Senior Vice President for Member and External Relations.
“Karen brings with her a wealth of experience that will ensure the continued effective management of IATA’s governance processes. Moreover, her industry expertise, leadership on diversity and inclusion, and strategic boardroom experience will contribute to IATA’s overall success in fulfilling its mission to represent, lead and serve the global airline industry,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
“In my time at Air New Zealand, I have experienced the importance of IATA’s global standards in driving innovation and making international air connectivity possible. By joining the IATA team next year I look forward to contributing to the value that IATA creates and supporting the needs of its members,” said Clayton.
A national of the United Kingdom, Karen holds a Law Degree from Sheffield University and a Diploma in Legal Practice from Exeter University. She was admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 1999. After beginning her career in legal firms in the UK and Australia, Karen moved into corporate practice where she served as General Counsel and Company Secretary at National Grid Plc, then General Counsel at Mercury NZ Ltd, prior to joining Air New Zealand. Throughout her career, Karen has been a keen advocate of diversity and inclusion.
