SEPANG: AirAsia Aviation Group has announced the appointment of its co-founder and former chief Tan Sri Tony Fernandes as group advisor and steward.
In a statement yesterday, group chairman Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim said Fernandes’ appointment will ensure both the continuity and significant transformation of AirAsia.
Jamaludin said in the new role, Fernandes will provide strategic oversight to the group including its expansion and succession planning as well as the key conduit between Capital A and the aviation business ecosystem to ensure all mutual opportunities are leveraged for maximum benefit.
“In addition, he will continue ongoing dialogue with key stakeholders including tourism and government, lessors, bankers and suppliers including Airbus and GE (General Electric),” he said.
Meanwhile, group chief executive officer Bo Lingam said the co-founder’s appointment would ensure the airline can become the most popular, profitable and value-driven in the region and beyond.
“In the short term, we remain focused on our airline recovery and growth strategy by putting the right foundations to provide greater connectivity at the best price, alongside an enhanced guest experience which will ultimately drive stronger shareholder value,” he said.
On his appointment, Fernandes expressed confidence that the airline will soar to greater heights with enhanced connectivity and greater flexibility with the ability to fly to places they have never flown before in the future.
He said in his capacity as the Capital A chief executive officer and being the advisor to the AirAsia Aviation Group, it would enable him to oversee a strong senior leadership team in aviation and maximise opportunities with the airline’s digital ecosystem.
“We focus on becoming the leading aviation, engineering, cargo, logistics and travel platform of choice for everyone – not only in Asean where our foothold is strongest; but across the globe in the future,” he added.
