Monarch appoint veteran Sir Roy McNulty as chairman after Iain Rawlinson steps down

Monarch have appointed an experienced transport chief as their new non-executive chairman.

Sir Roy McNulty, currently chairman of Gatwick Airport and formerly chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, has been named by the group as successor to Iain Rawlinson, who is stepping down after five years in the role.

McNulty is also well known in rail circles as he was asked by the Government to head a value-for-money study which found that UK rail costs were too high and needed to come down.

McNulty said through a statement on the company's website: “On behalf of the Mantegazza family, the group’s principal shareholder, I would like to thank Iain for his five years of service to Monarch where he has strengthened the group and repositioned Monarch Airlines as a differentiated scheduled low-cost carrier with a focus on superior customer service. He leaves with our best wishes.”

Rawlinson said that "the time is now right" for him to stand back after five years in the role.

“The Monarch Group has reached another chapter in its development and the time is now right for me to stand back," he said.

“There could be no two better people than Sir Roy and Andrew Swaffield, both with exceptional careers in the aviation and transport industries, to take Monarch forward and build on the excellent Monarch name and reputation.”

Sir Roy and newly-appointed chief executive Andrew Swaffield will assume the responsibilities of Rawlinson as the company undergo major changes at board level.