Andre Cruz

Executive with broad experience in business and technical areas, including fleet, aircraft financing, maintenance, operations, safety, supply chain, and logistics at airlines and aircraft manufacturers. Leadership of major company restructuring processes, including participation in two acquisitions (Varig in 2006 and Webjet in 2011), improving operational results with cost reduction initiatives and increased efficiency. Extensive experience leading and motivating large teams to overcome difficult challenges. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build trust with key stakeholders and deliver results. Large international exposure, with recurrent business trips to the United States, Netherlands, Ireland, Japan, Argentina, and Mexico to participate in management meetings, negotiations with suppliers, financing transactions, and other events and training. Frequent speaker at international aviation conferences, including ISTAT, IATA, and CCMA, et al. Bachelor’s in electrical engineering, with specialization in maintenance and project management. Native Portuguese and fluent English. Responsible for all airline operations, including OCC (Operational Control Center), Flight Operations (pilots), Maintenance & Engineering, Safety, Fleet, Supply Chain, and BI & Analytics organizations. Annual budget of more than $13 billion reais per year and 4,500 employees. Oversaw post-pandemic operational recovery of the largest airline in Brazil, growing operations to an average of 700 flights per day. Led recovery of the company’s on-time performance to levels higher than pre-pandemic through efficiency and productivity gains and a 10% reduction in the total head count. Also led reduction of operating costs through lean and continuous improvement projects. Managed the sale and lease back (SLB) of more than 50 aircraft valued at more than $2 billion USD. Successfully led maintenance (AMOS) and supply chain (Ariba) system implementation projects, which resulted in significant value creation. Expanded MRO network within Brazil to meet operational and maintenance requirements. Executed sale of aircraft resulting in profits in excess of $2.1 billion reais (2016–2020). Directed and negotiated the direct purchase of 737 aircraft from Boeing. Prioritized projects in Supply Chain that resulted in roughly $200 million reais (2020–2021) in savings through changing suppliers, contract renegotiation, and technical changes. Increased the working capital of the company by renegotiating and expanding payment terms with suppliers.