Air India board to review high-level appointments

Mumbai: AIR India’s chief operating officer Gustav Baldauf is not averse to getting appointments made by him reviewed by independent directors and is willing to defend his appointees in a board meet slated for November 18. Speaking for the first time on the issue Mr Baldauf said, “My only mistake in making these appointments is that I did not do it the Indian way.”
The Air India board is meeting to review these appointments and also to resolve problems dogging a turnaround plan. Recently, three government appointed independent directors of Air India had questioned the slow progress of this revival plan and had raised questions about the capability of the leadership at Air India. Mr Baldauf, the COO, is expected to explain his point of view in the board meeting and seek freedom to execute the turnaround plan, sources within the airline said.
A number of high-level appointments made by Mr Baldauf had created a ruckus. These include the appointment of Pawan Arora as Air India Express’ chief operating officer, and the naming of new heads of training and IT. Mr Bauldauf was a colleague of two of the new appointees.
13/11/10 Manisha Singhal/Economic Times

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Categories: Air India Nov 2010