CJPI Assists the British Airline Pilots’ Association with the Recruitment of New General Secretary

December 18, 2023 – U.K.-based executive search firm CJPI has assisted in the recruitment of Amy Leversidge as the new general secretary of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA). She was nominated by the National Executive Council (NEC) after an extensive and exhaustive recruitment process. Ms. Leversidge, who will take up her post on January 8 will be the first woman to be serve in this role in BALPA’s 86-year history. She is currently the assistant general secretary at the FDA and will bring her substantial experience in industrial relations to the role at BALPA.

“I am delighted the National Executive Council’s chosen candidate, Amy Leversidge, will be joining us,” said Paul Copland, executive president. “We must thank Miranda Rackley for her hard work and dedication during the past year as interim general secretary. The new year will be a time of new challenges for BALPA, with a new NEC leadership and general secretary working together to ensure our members are at the heart of all we do. Amy’s experience in her previous roles will add an extra dimension to our team and will help us continue to represent pilots and ensure action is taken on the issues that matter to our members.”

While at the FDA, Ms. Leversidge led on their successful campaign for a fully independent policy to deal with bullying and harassment in Parliament, which removed the role of MPs in investigating and adjudicating on complaints. Throughout the long-running campaign, she made extensive broadcast and print media appearances, including writing articles for The TimesThe GuardianThe Huffington Post and House magazine, as well as appearing on Radio 4’s Today program, Newsnight and the Victoria Derbyshire show.

Related: What Talent Acquisition Trends Will Dominate 2024?

Previously, Ms. Leversidge worked at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), leading their 2014 pay campaign. This involved the first ever ballot for industrial action in the 134-year history of the RCM, which included developing how midwives could take industrial action safely, without compromising care.  At the RCM, she sat on the NHS staff council, the negotiating body that covers over one million NHS staff, chairing their equality and diversity group, and sitting on both the health and safety group and Pensions Scheme advisory board. As well as leading on many campaigns, Ms. Leversidge also represented the RCM at European level at the European Public Services Union.


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“I am honored to become BALPA’s general secretary,” said Ms. Leversidge. “I am looking forward to working with the excellent staff and elected reps to ensure BALPA continues to deliver real outcomes for pilots across the U.K. and is a strong and influential voice for the piloting profession. The airline industry contributes significantly to the U.K. economy and supports over a million jobs and pilots are at the heart of the industry. As the voice of U.K. pilots, BALPA will ensure our voice is influential with employers, regulators and government on the many challenges the airline industry faces. I will work tirelessly for every member to ensure pilots are valued by all of our employers; to ensure we are influential around the opportunities and challenges in the future of the aviation industry; and most importantly that we focus on BALPA’s core principles of safety, strength and unity.”

Over 10,000 Members

BALPA is the union and professional association for pilots in the U.K. with over 10,000 members. It is the U.K.’s biggest pilot community and offer chances to network within that community and provide industrial, legal, employment, and personal support to assist members though every stage of their career.

CJPI team of experts brings a diverse range of perspectives and functional expertise to search. The firm specializes in the private health & medtech, government & public services, professional services, private equity, tech & cyber, leisure, travel & entertainment, consumer & retail, legal, industrial, sports, education, and life sciences sectors. CJPI is led by founder Chris Percival.

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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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