Press Release
May 2024

Virgin Atlantic Cargo appoints Nick Diesel as Managing Director

Virgin Atlantic Cargo is delighted to announce the appointment of Nick Diesel as its new Managing Director, effective 4th August 2024.  

Nick has been at Virgin Atlantic for nine years and during this time has held various senior leadership roles, most recently as Vice President, Financial Planning, with responsibility for leading the team through post-pandemic recovery and setting a pathway to return to profitability.  

With a background in strategy and operations consultancy at Deloitte, Nick has worked across high profile projects at Virgin Atlantic, including as finance lead for the Expanded Joint Venture agreement with Air France-KLM & Delta Air Lines. When the pandemic struck, he was responsible for co-ordinating the team through the airline’s £1.5bn recapitalisation, enabling its recovery. Nick succeeds Phil Wardlaw, who has been directing the cargo business in its digital transformation journey since 2021.  

Commenting on his new position, Nick said: “I am incredibly excited to take on this new challenge. Virgin Atlantic Cargo is one of the most important business units we have, and collectively this team delivered amazing achievements through the pandemic, enabling our recovery. As the world starts to normalise, every day they show an unrivalled ability to adapt to an everchanging world, while maintaining a focus on our customers to deliver the best service possible. The cargo division continues on a successful trajectory for 2024 and I look forward to building on this with the team.” 

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic commented: “We are delighted to welcome Nick to Virgin Atlantic Cargo. Nick played a fundamental role during the pandemic transformation, and I know he’ll bring incredible enthusiasm, ambition, and experience to this role. Our Cargo division offers fantastic opportunities for our people, and I look forward to working closely with Nick, as he leads the cargo team into its next phase.  

 “I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Phil for more than twenty years of service at Virgin Atlantic and his exceptional leadership of the cargo team. We wish him all the best in his new endeavors.” 

Nick will commence his new role on 4th August, Mark Faulkner, Head of Cargo Commercial, will be acting as Interim MD from 3rd June to 3rd August 2024.