AI sacks Arora two months after board sought dismissal

Air India Ltd (AI) sacked the chief operating officer (COO) of low-cost subsidiary Air India Express on Friday, two months after the board had called for his dismissal.
Pawan Arora, who had been hired last year despite opposition from some Air India directors, “has ceased to be the COO of Air India Charters Ltd (Air India Express) with immediate effect,” according to an 11 February note signed by V. Srikrishnan, Air India executive director (headquarters and personnel), that was reviewed by Mint.
The move came amid a review of Air India’s top recruits by Vayalar Ravi, who took over as aviation minister on 19 January. Mint reported on Wednesday that Ravi had sought a report in two weeks on how the state-run airline had benefited from new private-sector hires.
Apart from Arora, the other recruits include Air India chief operating officer Gustav Baldauf, chief of training Stefan Sukumar and public relations chief Kamaljit Rattan.
“It remains to be seen if his (Arora’s) probation was actually changed from three to six months as per the human resource committee of the airline in view of the financial implications,” said an Air India official who declined to be named.
Employment contract obligations stipulate that compensation has to be paid in case of premature termination, this official said.
12/02/11 Tarun Shukla/Live Mint

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Air India Budget Feb 2011, Air India Feb 2011