Virgin Atlantic Announces Josh Bayliss as Chairman

The Virgin Atlantic board announced today that Peter Norris will step down as Chair on 31 May 2026, after 14 years in the role. He will be succeeded at Virgin Atlantic by Josh Bayliss, CEO of Virgin Group.

Leadership Change at Virgin Atlantic
- Peter Norris will step down as Chair on 31 May 2026, after 14 years in the role.
- He has been Chair since 2012, guiding the airline through strategic milestones:
- Transatlantic joint venture with Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM
- Entry into the SkyTeam alliance
- Launch of Virgin Red loyalty partnership
- Pandemic-era restructuring and recapitalisation
- Corneel Koster, CEO, praised Norris for his clarity and conviction during both growth and crisis.
- Norris emphasized Virgin Atlantic’s greatest strength: its people, their dedication, and spirit.

Incoming Chair
- Josh Bayliss, CEO of Virgin Group since 2011, will succeed Norris on 1 June 2026.
- Bayliss brings expertise in brand strategy and investment diversification.
- He expressed excitement about working with the board and leadership team to deliver premium customer experiences.

Continuity
- Norris will remain Chair of Virgin Group and Virgin Hotels, ensuring continuity across the wider Virgin ecosystem.

This transition reflects Virgin Atlantic’s intent to balance resilience with innovation, positioning Bayliss to build on the strong foundations Norris leaves behind.