Sun Country Airlines has tapped Zarir Erani as new president and CEO.
Erani is the current chief information officer for Hallmark greeting card company and will take over in the top job at Sun Country in September.
He will replace current chief executive John Fredericksen who will assume the role of business manager.
The move is thought to be a last-ditch attempt to end a long pay dispute with the airline’s pilots.
Fredricksen will focus on ongoing contract talks with pilots.
The search for a chief executive to replace Fredericksen had been ongoing for about a year, Sun Country chairman Marty Davis said.
"John was willing to stay on until we found someone who fits the job," Davis said.
"Erani is very customer-oriented and he’s very employee-oriented. He has a very diverse skill set with a strong technology background."
Contract negotiations have dragged on for five years and an all-out pilot strike was averted just weeks ago.
