People Moves: Dr. Ben Dias, International Airlines Group

Dr. Ben Dias

Job From easyJet - Director of Data Science and Analytics
Job To International Airlines Group (IAG) - Chief AI Scientist

International Airlines Group (IAG), the owner of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling, has appointed Dr Ben Dias as Chief AI Scientist to lead its AI strategy. Dias joins from easyJet, where he served as Director of Data Science and Analytics.

The appointment marks an expansion of IAG's focus on AI, with the group opening dedicated AI laboratories in London and Barcelona. These facilities will serve as centres for the development of AI applications across IAG's operating companies.

IAG has identified machine learning applications in weather forecasting for pilots and customer service automation. The group’s virtual assistants use natural language processing, a branch of AI that enables computers to understand human text and speech, to reduce customer response times.

Jorge Saco, IAG's Chief Information, Procurement Services and Innovation Officer, says: "I'm delighted to welcome Ben to IAG and his appointment firmly reflects the growing role of AI within our business. AI has the potential to make our businesses perform better, help our employees and is essential to our long-term success."

Dias brings experience from roles at Royal Mail, the UK postal service; Tesco, the British retailer; and Unilever, the consumer goods manufacturer. He holds a PhD in Computer Vision and a Masters in Mathematics and Astronomy from University College London.

The aviation sector sees potential for AI to generate £35.7 billion in value through applications in revenue management, operations and customer experience. At IAG, Dias will focus on developing AI systems that can be implemented across the group's airlines to enhance operational efficiency and customer service.

Dias says: "It's a privilege to have joined IAG at such a pivotal time in their transformation programme. There's a huge opportunity to use AI across innovation and it's impressive the value and investment IAG are placing on this technology. I'm excited to find new ways to streamline operations, predict customer needs and increase efficiencies across the board.

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