KUALA LUMPUR: There was a roar of approval when Peter Bellew was named Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) in a town hall meeting at the airline’s headquarters yesterday.
Sources told Business Times the Irishman’s appointment was expected.
“We are glad it is an internal appointment and the 12-point MAS Recovery Plan (MRP) is still on track,” said one of the sources yesterday.
Bellew, who has more than 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, said he was excited to lead Malaysia Airlines.
“The challenge is to make the nation proud again of our wonderful Malaysia Airlines family,” he told Business Times yesterday.
Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG) and Khazanah Nasional Bhd, in separate statements, announced yesterday the appointment of Bellew to spearhead Malaysia Airlines effective today, replacing outgoing managing director and CEO Christoph Mueller.
Mueller will remain in the company until September to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
Bellew’s appointment confirmed a Business Times report that he was tipped to be the new CEO.
Khazanah said the appointment of Bellew was discussed and recorded at its board meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on June 21.
“Bellew’s appointment was made after the completion of a comprehensive process for leadership succession at MAB, undertaken by Khazanah with the MAB board and the government,” it said.
Khazanah added that Bellew had been integral to the airline’s turnaround plan.
His appointment would ensure continuity and progress of the restructuring effort under the five-year MRP launched on August 29 2014.
Bellew was the airline’s chief operating officer prior to the appointment.
MAG and Malaysia Airlines chairman Tan Sri Md Nor Md Yusof said Bellew had been a key figure in the airline’s senior management team responsible for executing the biggest and fastest transformation in the carrier’s history.
“He is an exceptional leader and has been an invaluable contributor to the transformation of the airline over the last 10 months,” he said, adding that Bellew and other members of the senior management team had established themselves positively within the company, especially in their rapport with employees as well as among the aviation community.