Dubai-based aviation giant Emirates Group has officially confirmed that its chief financial and group services officer Michael Doersam will resign, a move that has sent shockwaves through the aviation industry. Doersam plans to vacate the office at the end of June 2026, after nearly two decades in financial management roles. The airline clarified that the decision was taken for “family reasons” and marked a personal end to a career that has seen the airline transform into a global giant.
Emirates Airlines CFO resigns
Emirates Group has confirmed that Michael Doersam, the airline’s chief financial and group services officer, will leave the airline at the end of June 2026 due to family reasons. His successor will be appointed at a later date and despite the change in leadership, the airline’s strategic direction and commitment to stakeholders remain unchanged, the company said in a statement.“We can confirm that Michael Dorsam… has announced that he plans to step down from his role at the end of June 2026 due to family reasons,” Emirates said in an official press release. His successor will be announced in due course. The Emirates Group’s strategic direction and commitment to creating value for stakeholders remains unchanged. “Global institutions such as Bloomberg also reported on the decision, citing Reuters as saying that Dorsam’s departure has been confirmed and preparations are being made for a smooth transition.
Michael Dorsam’s Legacy
In 2008, he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Group Finance. In 2021, he was appointed Group Chief Financial Officer, overseeing financial strategy, financial reporting, treasury, management accounting, global financial services and insurance. In March 2024, he took on his latest role: Chief Financial and Group Services Officer, expanding his remit across the Group’s functional areas.During his long tenure at Emirates, Doersam also served as a board member of the group’s subsidiaries including Emirates Aviation University, Emirates Catering, Emirates CAE Flight Training and Transguard Group, and was actively involved in the International Air Transport Association (IATA).Industry profiles note that before joining Emirates, he worked in finance and risk management at organizations including Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance.
Who might be next?
While a successor has yet to be confirmed, the group confirmed it will make an announcement “in due course”. With the aviation world watching, industry insiders have floated several possible scenarios for a possible successor to the leader who helped make Emirates the most profitable international airline.
- Promotion from within: Emirates has historically valued continuity in leadership. A senior executive from the airline’s finance department could step in to ensure stability during the transition.
- Group-level appointments: Given the integrated structure of the Emirates Group, the new CFO could emerge from the wider group leadership team to maintain strategic alignment across subsidiaries.
- external
aviation finance expert : Alternatively, Emirates could reach beyond its in-house ranks and appoint a global aviation finance expert to bring a fresh perspective, especially as the airline grapples with sustainability financing, volatile fuel costs and large-scale aircraft deliveries.
The departure of a senior executive like Dorsam is notable because he played a central role in shaping Emirates’ financial strategy during a period of global turmoil, recovery and growth. The airline said that despite changes in leadership, its strategic direction and commitment to value creation remain unchanged. Emirates remains one of the world’s leading international airlines, with an extensive global network and more than 120,000 employees. Financial and operational planning will now be the responsibility of the new CFO, while maintaining continuity with the broader company strategy.
