Mallya gets UB executive to fill vacancy at Kingfisher Airlines

Mumbai: Billionaire Vijay Mallya, who is desperately trying to tie up funds for its debt-ridden airline, has hurriedly roped in a senior executive of his beer company United Breweries Ltd (UBL) to fill up a vacancy in his airline firm Kingfisher Airlines so that the process of fundraising is not derailed.
Ravikant Sabnavis, the divisional vice-president of UBL, has stepped into the shoes of Vikram Malhotra, who quit as the marketing head of Kingfisher Airlines a month ago.
Industry experts said Sabnavis' transfer to Kingfisher has come as surprise as coming from consumer goods industry, they doubt whether he would possess the expertise to handle marketing and selling of plane seats.
In his 16 years of professional life, Sabnavis has never worked with an airline. His marketing and advertising experience includes stints with Heinz India Pvt Ltd, Agro Tech Foods Ltd -- an associate company of ConAgra Foods -- and Lintas India Ltd.
Sources say Sabnavis could have been brought in temporarily till Mallya finds an airline professional for marketing head's post.
08/10/09 Ramiya Bhas/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Kingfisher Oct 2009