The appointment of Peter Gerber as the new head of leisure carrier Condor is a sensation in the German and European aviation landscape. The former CEO of Lufthansa subsidiary, Brussels Airlines, will take over Condor’s chair in exactly one year from now, following a contractually binding “cooling down” period. His departure obviously caught Lufthansa by surprise since the airline did not present a successor when Gerber announced his step. To fill the vacant position, Lufthansa nominated Group Board member, Christina Foerster, as interim CEO to run the Belgian subsidiary.
Ilse Verhelst, Internal Communications, Brussels Airlines: “Thank you for your leadership, Peter, and for the way you blended in in our company. Brussels Airlines will miss
your humanity and your wisdom. Wishing you happiness in everything you undertake in the future!”
Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO Westjet Airlines: “Wow, congratulations, Peter. Big loss for the Lufthansa Group, big gain for Condor Flugdienst GmbH🛫🚀.
You achieved a lot at and for Lufthansa. I particularly enjoyed working closely with you at Lufthansa Cargo. All the best for your new role - and enjoy the break until then.”
Mathias Jakobi, Area Manager, Central Europe, IATA: “👍🏻 Thanks for the great collaboration and friendship over my past 25+ years with IATA, and congrats on your Condor CEO appointment, Peter. Looking forward to further strengthening the business relationship with Condor under your leadership in 2024! All the best and take care!”
Mattijs Backx, Senior VP & Head of Global Business Services, PepsiCo: “It is hard to think about a Lufthansa without you, Peter Gerber. I would never be where I am today
without your mentorship and humanity I received during my early career steps.” J. Florian Pfaff, VP Asia Pacific, Lufthansa Cargo: “Congratulations, lieber Peter, for
your new assignment and thanks so much for all your support and guidance over many years. It was always a pleasure and a privilege to work with you!! Enjoy the break and a good start.
Best regards from Singapore.”
Wouter Dewulf, Academic Director C-MAT at University of Antwerp, Faculty of Business and Economies and Antwerp Management School: “Although I understand the reasons of Peter
Gerber to quit his CEO job at Brussels Airlines for another challenge at Condor Flugdienst GmbH, the fact that soon the fifth CEO in five years will be announced is not good from a management and
strategy consistency perspective for an airline which has been struggling since its inception to make a profit. The fact that in the last five years, Brussels airlines had three COOs and two CFOs
doesn't help either...”
Peter Gerber, born in 1964, has held various prominent positions in the Lufthansa Group, such as Executive Board member of the passenger airline, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo and, most recently, as
Head of Brussels Airlines.
Well-ordered house
At Condor, he will succeed long-time chief, Ralf Teckentrup, who is retiring at the beginning of next year. Originally, “Tecke”, as the manager is dubbed, also comes from the Lufthansa
cosmos. After graduating in industrial engineering in Hamburg, he joined the Crane company in 1986, where he subsequently held various management positions. In 2004, he moved to Condor which, in
addition to passengers, also transports air freight in the lower decks of the carrier’s fleet of widebody aircraft. At Condor, Mr. Teckentrup served first as CCO and then as CEO. Following the
bankruptcy of parent company, Thomas Cook, in 2019, the executive and his team managed to save Condor and put it on a solid financial and operational footing. Seen in this light, successor Gerber
is taking over a well-ordered house.
Heiner Siegmund
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