IAG and its airlines, British Airways, Iberia, and Vueling, shuffle CFOs
IAG's CFO set off a domino effect of in-group promotions across several IAG airlines.
International Airlines Group (IAG), as well as some of its subsidiaries, British Airways, Iberia, and Vueling, have announced several C-level changes, promoting some of its executives to new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) roles after the group’s CFO announced his intentions to leave the company in June 2026.
On January 9, 2026, IAG announced that Nicholas Cadbury, its current CFO, will be leaving the group in June. Cadbury said that it has been “a privilege to be involved in the success of IAG and to work with so many dedicated and talented people,” adding that this was the right time to step down and seek new challenges outside IAG.
José Antonio Barrionuevo will replace Cadbury. Barrionuevo has been the Chief Financial and Transformation Officer (CFTO) of British Airways since July 2023, having joined the group in 2013. He was the CFO of Iberia for seven years, IAG pointed out.
Luis Gallego, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IAG, thanked Cadbury for his contributions. “Under his leadership, IAG has built back its balance sheet and profitability, improved shareholder returns, positioning for long-term sustainable growth,” Gallego stated.
Gallego added that he was “delighted” that Barrionuevo will be replacing IAG’s current CFO, with Barrionuevo bringing “significant experience in finance, transformation, and strategy in both Iberia and British Airways and in capital markets.”
Barrionuevo’s replacement at British Airways will be Gabriel Perdiguero, who is the current CFTO of Iberia. According to the Spanish airline, Perdiguero joined Iberia in 2014 and has held “a number of senior executive roles at the airline,” including a stint as the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Iberia.
“In 2019, he spearheaded the creation of Iberia’s Data and Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence, integrating data capabilities into business decision-making and operational processes,” the carrier noted.
Meanwhile, Joana de Epalza will become Iberia’s new CFTO. De Epalza has been the CFTO of Vueling since 2023, having joined the airline from Alpine, a subsidiary of the French carmaker Renault.
According to the Spanish carrier, the incoming CFTO has “more than two decades of experience in finance and management roles across multinational companies such as Alpine, Algeco, and Elliot Group,” where she had been the CFO.
“These appointments once again highlight the strength of the talent across IAG’s airlines and the Group’s strong commitment to internal mobility and career development.”
Over the years, IAG has had multiple promotions within the group.
For example, Gallego, the group’s CEO, had been Iberia’s Chairman and CEO, before he became the chief executive of IAG. Sean Doyle, the CEO of British Airways, previously worked as the CEO of Aer Lingus, having joined the Irish carrier following a stint as the Director of Network and Alliances at British Airways.
Marco Sansavini, the Chair and CEO of Iberia, was previously Vueling’s Chair and CEO, while Aer Lingus’ current chief executive, Lynne Embleton, joined the Irish airline after being the Chair and CEO of IAG Cargo. Vueling’s current Chair and CEO, Carolina Martinoli, had been the Chief of People, Corporate Affairs, and Sustainability Officer at IAG before she took over the reins of the group’s Spain-based low-cost carrier.
Rytis Beresnevicius
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