EasyJet appoints Ranasinghe as new sustainability director

EasyJet has appointed Lahiru Ranasinghe as director of sustainability, following the departure of Jane Ashton, who launched the carrier’s sustainability department in 2020.

Formerly the airline’s head of net zero, Ranasinghe formulated easyJet’s decarbonisation strategy and in his new role will continue to oversee the carrier’s progress towards achieving its carbon reduction goals. He will also now be responsible for leading and expanding the sustainability team.

Ranasinghe has been in the airline industry for more than a decade, having held commercial and strategy roles at British Airways and Virgin Atlantic before joining easyJet in 2019 as a senior strategy manager. He then moved into the sustainability function in 2022.

Commenting on his new role, Ranasinghe said: “I am honoured to take on this role and continue on the journey that I started with Jane Ashton. We have made a great start, and easyJet is on track to meet our interim target of 35 per cent reduction in GHG emissions intensity by 2035.

“Nevertheless we have a challenging and exciting journey ahead and it is a privilege to take on the responsibility of guiding easyJet and the wider industry towards a more sustainable future.”

Prior to joining the airline industry, Ranasinghe completed a masters in aeronautical engineering and began his career as an engineer working on Airbus commercial aircraft.