Within 65 days of landing, Ravi puts AI board on rejig mode

After the exit of three top management recruits, whose performance was ranked as below par by the new civil aviation minister Vayalar Ravi, national carrier Air India is readying for another major shakeout — this time in its 14-member Board.
In a little over 60 days of Ravi’s taking charge from his predecessor Praful Patel, the old order at the loss-stricken airline is making way for the new.
In his first address in Air India’s inflight magazine, Ravi said that while handing over civil aviation ministry charge, PM Manmohan Singh gave him a one-line brief — turn around Air India. The minister, said government sources in the know, is keen to reshuffle the two government nominees on the Board. Also, three of the total six functional directors are on exit mode, said official sources.
The government recently rejected the plea of Anup Srivastava, director (personnel) and Amod Sharma — former SBU-head, for a second extension on the airline’s Board. Their five-year term as functional director on the Board expired in October, 2010, following which they were given a three-month extension, a decision backed by the then civil aviation secretary M Nambiar. Another functional director Anita Khurana (head – cargo) proceeded on a 113 day leave last week till her retirement on July 13. Executive director (Americas and customer service ), Chitra Sarkar, too has proceeded on a long leave. “These vacant slots are likely to be filled later,” said an airline executive.
25/03/11 Smita Aggarwal/Indian Express

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Categories: Air India Mar 2011