Gol names André Fehlauer as new CEO after Celso Ferrer departs for Boeing

Gol Linhas Aéreas, the Brazilian carrier owned by Abra Group, has announced a leadership change following the departure of its chief executive Celso Ferrer. Ferrer, who had led the airline for four years and previously joined the company as an intern in 2004, is leaving to take up a role as Boeing's president for the Latin America and Caribbean regions.

The airline confirmed on August 13, 2026, that André Fehlauer would succeed Ferrer as chief executive starting in September 2026. Fehlauer previously spent eight years at Gol as head of Smiles, the carrier's loyalty program, working across Argentina and Brazil. He most recently served as chief executive of Livelo, another Brazilian loyalty program, and has also held roles at Citi and Credicard earlier in his career.

In a statement, Gol said Fehlauer's appointment was intended to ensure continuity in the airline's strategic direction, with an emphasis on customer-focused growth as the company enters what it described as its next phase of value creation, in coordination with other carriers under the Abra Group umbrella.

As part of the broader leadership reshuffle, Albert Perez, currently Gol's chief commercial officer, will take on additional duties as president of the airline. Ferrer, reflecting on his departure, said he had spent more than two decades with the company, describing his tenure as one marked by growth alongside colleagues and involvement in events that shaped Brazilian aviation history.

The changes mark a significant shift for Gol's executive leadership as it continues to operate within the Abra Group structure alongside other airlines in the group's portfolio.