Virgin Atlantic has appointed Alex Alexander to the newly created role of Chief Digital & Information Officer (CDIO), with the seasoned technology executive set to join the airline on 13 April 2026 to spearhead its next chapter of digital transformation.
Alexander arrives with nearly two decades of high-calibre experience cutting across aviation, retail and AI-powered digital platforms. His career portfolio includes stints as Group Chief Technology Officer at Emirates Group, Group Chief Product & Technology Officer at Adevinta, and Group Chief Information Officer at YOOX NET-A-PORTER, as well as leadership positions at WalmartLabs. Most recently, he served as Founder and CEO of XOOTS, an AI-driven talent recruitment solutions company.
In his new capacity, Alexander will oversee Technology, Digital Development, Data, Artificial Intelligence and Transformation — sitting on Virgin Atlantic’s executive Leadership Team to help set technology strategy at an enterprise level. The appointment signals the airline’s continued commitment to leveraging technology and AI as key enablers of improved customer experience, operational efficiency, revenue growth and productivity.
Virgin Atlantic counts Microsoft and Databricks among its key strategic technology partners, and earlier this month launched a revamped app integrated with Virgin Atlantic Concierge, an AI-powered travel planning companion available around the clock.
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Alexander is expected to intensify efforts toward delivering a seamless digital experience for both customers and staff. His expertise in digital transformation, advanced analytics and AI adoption is seen as central to the airline’s ambition to plan smarter, operate more efficiently and personalise its service offering.
Commenting on the appointment, Alexander said:
“Innovation is firmly in the DNA of Virgin Atlantic and I’m delighted to join such an iconic brand. We have a huge opportunity to accelerate our digital journey and to scale up industry-leading AI capabilities. I’m really looking forward to leading the team as we harness technology to enhance the customer experience, drive operational excellence and power the airline’s next chapter.”
Meanwhile, Nick Diesel — who took on additional responsibilities as interim CDIO during the recruitment process — will revert fully to his permanent position as Managing Director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo from 1 June.