Mr. Peter Kearney, chairman of the COOPANS Alliance Board and CEO of the Irish Aviation Authority announced the appointments of Mr. Dario Grguric, as COOPANS General Manager and Mr. Mikael Eriksson as COOPANS Programme Director. 

Mr Kearney said, “I wish to congratulate Mr Grguric and Mr Eriksson on their successful appointments to these two senior positions.  These roles are important for the development and evolution of the COOPANS Alliance, the leading ANSP alliance in Europe.  COOPANS is already delivering significant cost savings, safety and efficiency benefits and cutting-edge technology for its members and their customers.  Mr Grguric and Mr Eriksson will now play key roles in the strategic development of the next phase of the COOPANS Alliance.” 

COOPANS is an international partnership between the air navigation service providers (ANSPs) of Austria (Austro Control), Croatia (Croatia Control), Denmark (Naviair), Ireland (Irish Aviation Authority), Portugal (NAV Portugal) and Sweden (LFV). COOPANS partners operate a world class, safe and cost-effective ATM system. COOPANS has adopted a common managerial approach, whereby the six ANSPs act as one organisation together with Thales, as system supplier, with a focus on common success and mutual benefits.

Continuing Mr. Kearney said that “COOPANS members are committed to the continued development of the Alliance.  Currently we are working on developing the next generation of a common, global leading ANS system.  We are also considering a range of structural changes within the COOPANS Alliance that would position the Alliance to meet the challenges and opportunities of new Single European Sky (SES) requirements, funding opportunities and continue to deliver the high standards that we have set ourselves. We will work in partnership with the European Commission and other stakeholders to deliver the digital European sky and its associated benefits.  In addition, the aviation sector is facing huge challenges following the impacts caused by COVID-19 and the requirement to develop a sustainable, low emissions aviation model.  These appointments will play a key role in helping to develop and position the COOPANS Alliance to meet these challenges and continue to be at the centre of European and global aviation.”

Mr Grguric will be responsible for the general management of all aspects of the various COOPANS workstreams to deliver the policies and decisions of the Alliance Board.  These include the governance and management of various workstreams, liaising with technology supplier Thales and continuing strategic discussions with new candidate members and strategic relations with European institutions and aviation partners.  Mr Eriksson will lead the development and implementation of a new programme board structure aimed at increasing agility for COOPANS decision making and direct core team liaison across the Alliance. COOPANS members view this as core priority for the effective evolution of the Alliance in the coming years.  Both of these roles will work closely together and across the COOPANS members and in liaison with the Alliance Board. 

Mr Kearney concluded, “On behalf of the Alliance Board and COOPANS member companies, I wish Mr. Grguric and Mr. Eriksson every success in their new roles and I look forward to working closely with them both in the coming months and years.  As two highly skilled professionals, with a wealth of experience in the aviation sector, I am confident that Mr. Grguric and Mr. Eriksson will be significant assets to the COOPANS Alliance.”

== Published 10 Sep 2021 ==