Air India turnaround team breaking up, Sukumar quits

Air India’s board is likely to approve the airline’s turnaround plan in mid-March but the team that is supposed to effect the turnaround is in the process of being dismantled. While the COO of the low-cost Air India Express was asked to leave a few days ago, chief training officer Stefan Sukumar has put in his papers – his resignation is yet to be accepted.
Air India COO Gustav Baldauf, who was appointed by Praful Patel after a search committee recommended his name, is also in trouble. Angered by not being given a free hand, and his appointments being challenged, Baldauf has given interviews saying there was a lot of politics going on. The aviation ministry has asked Air India for a written explanation for the media interviews. Baldauf has told colleagues about the various job offers he has, clearly signalling he is fed up.
likely to set up a committee to help ensure Air India and Indian Airlines’ HR issues are resolved at the earliest. The committee is likely to be headed by a former chief justice of either the high court or the Supreme Court.
Vyalar Ravi is believed to have taken a sympathetic view of the airline’s demand for fresh funds. In a presentation to the minister earlier this month, the airline chairman and managing director Arvind Jadhav is believed to have pegged the cash requirement to about R17,000 crore.
25/02/11 Nirbhay Kumar/Financial Express

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Categories: Air India Feb 2011