St. Croix resident Ethel Ritch will head up Seaborne Airlines operations on St. Thomas and St. Croix, Seaborne announced Wednesday in a press release. Ritch will hold the title of vice president, a newly created position developed as part of Seaborne’s move of its headquarters to San Juan, Puerto Rico, in March.
Ritch will direct the seaplane operation on St. Thomas and St. Croix, as well as overseeing airport operations on both islands.
“A lot has happened in the past month that we are excited and proud about,” said Gary Foss, Seaborne’s president and chief executive officer. “But one of the things that make us the most proud is strengthening the company financially in a way that will allow Seaborne to better serve the territory’s travel needs.
He said Ritch brings an understanding of the territory’s travel needs and that her industry experience prepared her well for the challenges ahead. Foss said those challenges include growing operations in the territory.
According to the press release, Ritch will be the face of Seaborne in the Virgin Islands.
Ritch is a 37-year resident of St. Croix with 35 years airline experience in the territory. Her career spans maintenance, operations, marketing and human resources.
Beginning her airline career in 1979 as an operations secretary for Antilles Airboats, Ritch held positions with Coral Air, Eastern Metro Express, Sunaire and V. I. Seaplane Shuttle. She joined Seaborne in 2005 as director of human resources and held the post of vice president of administration/human resources since 2006.
Seaborne launched service Wednesday to St. Kitts and Nevis from San Juan airport, and will start a new service from San Juan to Punta Cana on Feb. 14. Service from San Juan to St. Maarten begins March 1.
On Dec. 18, 2013, Seaborne announced the relocation of headquarters staff from St. Croix to San Juan.
