🔥 Trending Saadia Zahidi Appointed as New Director General of IATA

Saadia Zahidi is a prominent Pakistani-Swiss economist, currently serving as a Managing Director at the World Economic Forum (WEF) and a member of its Managing Board ¹². She is widely recognized for her significant contributions to global economic and labor market discussions, particularly through her leadership of the WEF's Centre for the New Economy and Society ²⁴.

Key Roles and Contributions

Zahidi's career has been marked by her influential work at the World Economic Forum, where she has been instrumental in shaping international conversations on various critical issues:

• World Economic Forum (WEF) Leadership: As a Managing Director, she heads the Centre for the New Economy and Society, collaborating with businesses, governments, academics, and civil society to foster economic opportunity for all ².
• Co-author of Key Reports: She is a co-author of several highly anticipated WEF reports, including the Future of Jobs, Global Gender Gap, and Global Risks Reports ¹. These reports provide crucial insights into global trends and challenges, influencing policy and business strategies worldwide.
• Expertise in Global Economics: Zahidi is an expert in areas such as the future of work, economic growth, and workforce transformation, having dedicated over two decades to these fields ⁵.

Recent Appointment to IATA

In a significant development announced on July 23, 2026, Saadia Zahidi was appointed as the next Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) ³⁷. She is set to assume this role in November 2026, making her the first woman to lead the global airline trade group ³⁵⁶⁸. This appointment follows her "long and outstanding experience at the World Economic Forum," which IATA believes will "enhance and strengthen" the organization ⁶. She will succeed Willie Walsh, who is departing from the organization in July ⁷.

Background

Born in Lahore, Pakistan, Saadia Zahidi's journey to becoming a global economist and policy expert includes her education at Harvard Kennedy School ⁴⁵⁸. Her Pakistani origin and Swiss nationality highlight her diverse background and global perspective ¹⁴.