NRI businessman Yusuff Ali to join board of Air India

New Delhi: Dubai-based expatriate businessman Yusuff Ali M.A. will join national carrier Air India, which is being bailed out by the government with an equity infusion, as its fifth independent board member soon, two ministry officials said.
Air India’s board was expanded in March with the appointment of four new independent directors from industry in a bid to revive the loss-laden carrier run by National Aviation Co. of India Ltd.
“We had sent five names for government clearance, but since he is Dubai-based, the background checks took some time. The approval is likely to come any day now,” said a civil aviation ministry official who asked not to be named. A second ministry official confirmed the move.
Anand Mahindra, vice-chairman and managing director of Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd; Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry secretary general Amit Mitra; industrialist Harsh Neotia and former Air Force chief Fali H. Major joined the board in March.
Kerala-born Yusuff Ali is managing director of the Abu Dhabi-based Emke Group, which runs shopping malls, supermarkets and departmental stores in over two dozen countries, according to the group’s website. Also a board member of Cochin International Airport Pvt. Ltd, Ali was an Air India director in 1997-1998.
15/04/10 Tarun Shukla/Live Mint

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Categories: NACIL Apr 2010