Virgin America Names Peter Hunt as SVP and CFO
Virgin America, a US airline, has appointed Peter Hunt as senior vice president (SVP) and chief financial officer (CFO), effective 11 July 2011. Hunt will oversee the growing airline’s financial operations, including treasury, tax, financial planning and analysis, accounting, external financial reporting, budgets, procurement and fleet planning. He brings to Virgin America extensive experience in all aspects of finance and accounting at a publicly traded airline, having most recently served as vice president and CFO of Pinnacle Airlines.
While at Pinnacle, Hunt oversaw the financial aspects of a public airline with over US$1bn in annual revenue. In addition to negotiating the purchase of Mesaba Aviation in 2010, he led the negotiation of several operating agreements with Pinnacle’s major airline partners resulting in new aircraft orders and growth for the company. Hunt also managed the relationship with Northwest Airlines during Northwest’s restructuring in 2007, ultimately leading to a new, long-term partnership. He was responsible for all areas of finance and accounting during his six years at Pinnacle, including managing relationships with investors and lenders. Hunt began his aviation career with eight years at Continental Airlines, where he rose to the position of managing director of corporate finance.
Hunt holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Georgetown University. He has served on the board of directors of the United Way of the Mid-South and the Memphis Development Foundation, the not-for-profit organisation that manages the Orpheum Theater in Memphis.
Hunt replaces current SVP and CFO Holly Nelson, who will leave the company to pursue other opportunities.