• Sebastián Acuto has been appointed Vice President of Operations and Maintenance (COO) at LATAM Airlines Group, a position from which he will lead the Operations, Maintenance and Fleet areas, with a focus on further strengthening the safety, punctuality and efficiency of the airline’s operations, while continuing to advance its technological transformation.
• Acuto succeeds Hernán Pasman, who stepped down as Vice President of Operations and Maintenance on August 31.

Acuto has 17 years of experience at LATAM. Since 2020, he has served as Director of Fleet and Projects, leading the group’s fleet strategy and planning. Key milestones during his tenure include negotiating aircraft and engine contracts during the Chapter 11 process, the introduction of the Embraer E2 aircraft, and the development of new products aimed at enhancing the in-flight experience, with a particular focus on comfort, onboard connectivity and operational efficiency

Previously, he served as Director of Engineering and Maintenance for eight years and held other operational positions, where he drove initiatives based on LEAN Six Sigma and continuous improvement methodologies.

“Taking on this challenge after 17 years at LATAM is a tremendous source of pride and, at the same time, a great responsibility. Safety will always remain our top priority. On this foundation, we aim to further strengthen an operation that is increasingly reliable, punctual and efficient, supported by the commitment and experience of our teams, as well as by technology, so that we can anticipate problems, make better decisions and consistently deliver on the promise we make to our passengers and cargo customers” said Acuto.

One of the priorities of his tenure will be to continue advancing the digitalisation of operations and the adoption of new technologies. In this area, the executive sees the use of data, artificial intelligence and automation as an opportunity to address structural challenges facing the industry, reduce errors and rework, and develop increasingly efficient operations, while always keeping the customer at the centre of every decision
Before joining LATAM, Acuto worked at McKinsey & Company in Argentina, where he specialised in operational transformations and LEAN Six Sigma methodology. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA) and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business

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