Former easyJet CEO moves to Flybe

London - Europe's largest regional airline Flybe Group said it named Saad Hammad, a former executive at rival easyJet and Air Berlin, as its chief executive officer with effect from August 1.

Hammad, who is currently a managing director at private equity firm Gores Group, was the chief commercial officer at British low-cost carrier easyJet from October 2005 to April 2009.

He served as a non-executive director of Air Berlin, the second largest airline in Germany, between May 2011 and October 2012.

Jim French, currently chairman and chief executive officer of Flybe, will become non-executive chairman from August 1, the struggling British carrier said in a statement.

Last month, Flybe reported a bigger full-year loss, after a turbulent year of battling soaring fuel costs, falling passenger counts and higher airport charges, particularly in London.

In May easyJet reported that it had roughly halved its losses in the first half, helped by Easter falling earlier than a year ago and strong bookings from customers wanting to escape cold weather in Britain and Northern Europe.