ETIHAD AIRWAYS EMIRATI EMPLOYEE WINS ABU DHABI EXCELLENCE AWARD

An Etihad Airways’ Emirati employee has won the prestigious Chairman of the Executive Council Medal forBest Employee in Technical Field at the fourth edition of the Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance (ADAEP) 2015.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, the awards were presented at a glittering ceremony held last night at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Mohamed Abdulla Al Katheeri, Etihad Airways’ Head of Aircrafts Warranty and Guarantee, joined the airline's Technical Division in 2008 as a Safety Manager. Later he was promoted to his current position as a result of his high ambitions, excellent professional achievements and support from Etihad Airways to realise his potential.

‘’This recognition is the crown of all awards in our beloved city of Abu Dhabi as it’s associated with the name of our visionary leader, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. I have worked extremely hard to reach this point, thanks to the tremendous support of my family, teachers, and mentors in Etihad Airways,” he said.

With over 13 years of extensive aviation experience, Mohamed was the first Aircraft Engineer in his batch to obtain licences from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority and the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), which are recognised in 32 European countries (EASA Licence) and in the Sultanate of Oman (DGCAM Licence). He is certified to operate four different aircraft.

Mohamed was the first UAE national in his academic batch to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Management and a Master’s Degree, with distinction and high honour, through the Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (GAMCO), now known as Etihad Airways Engineering.

Ray Gammell, Etihad Airways’ Chief People and Performance Officer, said: “Etihad Airways is committed to developing skilled and qualified UAE nationals right from the start and throughout their entire career with us. We are extremely proud of all our Emirati employees and especially Mohamed who is recognised as a leader in our technical community and considered a role model for his colleagues.”

Furthermore, two Etihad Airways employees were nominated in the individuals award category including Etihad Airways’ Vice President Medical Services, Dr Nadia Bastaki for Best Executive Director, and Fatima Al Kharousi, the airline’s first Emirati female airport manager in Japan, for Best Employee in Customer Service Field (Supervisory).

Etihad Airways also received three other awards at ADAEP 2015 including Excellent Entity in Human Resources Development award, Excellent Entity in Risk Management and Sustainable Business award, and ADAEP Project/Team award for Outstanding Internal Improvement for its Performance Management and Winning Behaviours project.