Dubai: Etihad Airways president and chief executive James Hogan has stepped down from the Virgin Australian board.

The Australian-born executive cited “other commitments” preventing him from devoting “the time needed for the role,” in a statement on the Australian Securities Exchange on Wednesday.

Hogan’s alternative director, Australian-born James Rigney, Etihad’s chief financial officer, also resigned from his role.

Etihad chief operating officer equity partners Bruno Matheu will now sit on the Virgin Australia board.

Matheu is a former Air France senior executive. His alternative director is Etihad senior vice president finance equity partners Ulf Huttmeyer, former Air Berlin finance chief.

Etihad is the second largest shareholder in Virgin Australia with a 24.2 per cent stake.