Cargojet has appointed Pauline Dhillon as its sole chief executive, effective 1 January, as the Canadian all-cargo carrier sharpens its focus on strategic growth across Europe and Asia. Dhillon, a founding partner of the airline, has co-led the company alongside Jamie Porteous since early 2024.
The leadership transition coincides with Cargojet’s efforts to strengthen its international footprint, underscored by the recent launch of its scheduled freighter service to Europe. The company said Dhillon’s 24 years of operational and corporate experience position her to drive the next phase of expansion.
Over her career, Dhillon has held a wide range of senior roles, including vice-president of corporate marketing and government affairs, chief corporate officer, and co-chief executive. Cargojet highlighted her oversight of key corporate functions such as human resources, finance, IT, regulatory affairs, revenue optimisation, charter sales, maintenance, and strategic customer management.
“Pauline’s strategic vision, deep understanding of our operations, and commitment to our customers and employees make her the ideal choice to lead Cargojet into the future,” said Ajay Virmani, executive chairman of Cargojet. “She has been instrumental in building a customer-centric culture that forms the foundation of our success.”
Dhillon’s appointment follows the planned retirement of co-CEO and fellow founding member Jamie Porteous, who will step down on 31 December. The airline acknowledged Porteous’ pivotal role in shaping Cargojet’s trajectory from a bold start-up to Canada’s premier air cargo carrier.
“As one of Cargojet’s founding members, Jamie has been a cornerstone of the company’s growth and success,” the carrier said. Virmani added: “Jamie’s impact on Cargojet cannot be overstated. His leadership and loyalty have been integral to our identity and growth for nearly a quarter of a century.”
Cargojet said it is well-positioned for the next stage of development as it looks to unlock emerging opportunities in Europe and Asia under Dhillon’s leadership.
