“One incredible ride”: Andy Gibbons announces departure from WestJet

Andrew (Andy) Gibbons is leaving WestJet after more than 12 years with the company.

Taking to his LinkedIn page to share the news, Gibbons, who currently serves as WestJet’s vice-president of external affairs, wrote that he is leaving the airline on January 24 to pursue new opportunities.

“This is a difficult decision given my passion and dedication to the work and my colleagues,” Gibbons wrote. “But it is the right and timely one for my life and career.”

Starting at WestJet in 2012 as a director of government affairs, Gibbons was promoted to vice-president in 2021 at the height of the global pandemic. 

Over the years, he has worked to build WestJet’s reputation, working with Canada’s federal and provincial governments on legislative, regulatory and policy developments impacting WestJet and the Canadian aviation industry. 

He has been a right hand to WestJet’s CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech in times of crisis and clarification, joining him in parliamentary meetings to take stances on everything from baggage fees to the administrative and financial burdens on aviation to government-mandated travel restrictions.

Gibbons has been called one of Canada’s leading public affairs practitioners and has been named in Canada’s top 100 lobbyists by the Hill Times every year for the last ten years.

“Working at WestJet has been an incredible professional experience for which I am deeply grateful,” Gibbons wrote. “In the GR/PR space, I am not sure there could be a more challenging and fulfilling experience.”

“Being an ambassador for our employees, partners and communities who rely us has been a privilege. Whether is was the dark days of COVID-19 or rolling out our growth strategy in key markets or promoting WestJet and Canada globallym it has been one incredible ride.”

“I have worked with the best people across Canada through thick and thin and am so lucky to have been able to cultivate and nurture a national network of friends and associates.”

Gibbons goes to say that he is “proud of the team and what we have been able to achieve together.”

“From policy advocacy to partnership development to managing crises it has been an incredible ride,” he wrote. “WestJet is a great Canadian company and I’m grateful to have been able to do this work for so long and with such great colleagues, stakeholders, friends and partners.”

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