James Hogan will step down as president and CEO of Etihad in the second half of this year.
Hogan, who has been with the airline for 10 years, is joining an investment company along with Etihad Aviation Group CFO James Rigney, who will also leave the company later this year.
Etihad said a global search for a new Group CEO and a new Group CFO is already underway.
H.E. Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, chairman of the Board of the Etihad Aviation Group, said: "We are very grateful to James. In just 10 years, he has overseen the growth of the company from a 22 plane regional carrier into a 120 aircraft global airline and aviation group, with seven airline equity partnerships which together serve more than 120 million guests every year.
"It is a business which has set new benchmarks for service and innovation. Under his leadership, the company has provided new opportunities for thousands of Emiratis and has been a critical element in the remarkable progress of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. We look forward to James’ continued association with Abu Dhabi in new ways."
He said the Board would continue an ‘ongoing, company-wide strategic review’.
"We must ensure that the airline is the right size and the right shape. We must continue to improve cost efficiency, productivity and revenue. We must progress and adjust our airline equity partnerships even as we remain committed to the strategy."
Last month, Etihad Airways unveiled plans to create a new European leisure airline in a joint venture with TUI AG.
It has also just signed a new codeshare agreement with Lufthansa and confirmed an aircraft leasing agreement between airberlin and Lufthansa.
In addition, Etihad said it is ‘actively participating’ in the next phase of a restructuring plan by Alitalia, in which it is a minority shareholder.
Hogan added: "Along with the Board and my 26,000 colleagues, I am very proud of what we have built together at Etihad and of the company’s substantial contribution to the UAE and to the development of Abu Dhabi. The last decade has seen incredible results but this only represents a first chapter in the story of Etihad."
