AirAsia Berhad announces senior leadership changes

AirAsia, the world's best low-cost airline, today announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously approved senior leadership changes, in line with the AirAsia Group's new digitalisation strategy.

Aireen Omar, the current Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Berhad, will be promoted to Deputy Group CEO – Digital, Transformation, Corporate Services. Aireen's appointment signals AirAsia's determination to successfully transform itself from an aviation company into a digital corporation. This appointment underlines as well the fact that AirAsia is restructuring its priorities to optimally maximise the enormous potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Digital transformation will be Aireen's priority, where she will be spearheading the non-airline companies such as BIGPay, BIG Loyalty, ROKKI Shoppe, ROKKI Portal, Travel360, Vidi, RedTix, AirAsiaGo, BD4H, RedCargo, Red Box and Santan. Additionally, Aireen will oversee large, strategic group-wide initiatives and help transform AirAsia into a global, cloud-driven product and platform company. Aireen will be responsible for AirAsia's digital strategy, promoting innovation throughout the group and encouraging collaboration across AirAsia's businesses and markets.

She will also continue to lead the corporate services sector for the AirAsia group, which includes risk management, government affairs and corporate development. Aireen will report directly to Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Group CEO effective January 10th 2018. Aireen joined AirAsia in January 2006 as Director of Corporate Finance, portfolio expanding quickly to also include Treasury, Fuel Procurement and Investor Relations functions. She was promoted to Regional Head of Corporate Finance, Treasury and Investor Relations, and was also appointed as member of the Safety Review Board. She was appointed AirAsia Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director effective 1 July 2012.

The airline also announced the appointment of Captain Adrian Jenkins, current Group Director, Flight Operations as Chief Operations Officer, reporting to Bo Lingam, Deputy Group CEO of AirAsia (Airline business). In his new role, Captain Adrian will be responsible for Group functions for Ground Operations, Engineering, Safety, Security, QA, NMC and customer experience. Adrian will drive AirAsia Group's On Time Performance (OTP) and overall customer experience.

Captain Adrian started his career as cabin crew with Malaysia Airlines. He joined AirAsia in 1996, when the airline was still owned by Hicom Holdings Berhad. He has served AirAsia in various positions including instructor and Company Check Airman, Assistant Chief Pilot – Training and Standars, and Assistant Chief Pilot –Operations. He was also closely involved in setting up AirAsia Thailand's flight operations and pilot training. In 2006, he was made Regional Head of Flight Operations. He assumed the Group Firector of Flight Operations position on 2nd January 2015 with overall responsibility for the safe and efficient operation of AirAsia aircraft by overseeing pilot recruitment, training and operations as well as cabin crew, ensuring compliance with national and international regulatory requirements and procedures.

In addition, the airline also announced the appointment of Rozman Omar, current Deputy Group CEO, Strategy and MNA as the Executive Director of AirAsia International Limited (AAIL), which is a holding company of all AirAsia group investments in its overseas joint ventures.

Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Group CEO said "I am very proud to announce the leadership changes. The new appointments brings focus to both our core airline business as well as our digital growth businesses. Having Bo Lingam lead the airline business, brings continued strength to our operations, serving close to 70 million guests per year. And with Aireen driving on our non-airline and digital businesses, it brings focus on disruptive growth for our new businesses. With her insights into the industry gained over the past many years, her ability to discover new ways and many successes on her resume, Aireen is the perfect person to lead our digitalisation plan".

"I am also pleased to announce the promotion of Captain Adrian Jenkins as Chief Operations Officer. With his vast experience across flight operations and various geographies, he will bring operational efficiency to a whole new level across the group. He is a great example of internal talent development and has grown with the company to take on this very critical role".

"Rozman on the other hand will play a critical role in AirAsia International Limited. His primary role is to consolidate the company's Asean units in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia together under one listed holding company, namely One AirAsia. The dream of AirAsia Group and a Asean holding company is getting shape. With the appointment of Rozman Omar as Executive Director od AAIL will give focus to the above. AAIL is where our airline investments sit. Rozman wil drive the formation of AirAsia Group and the link for AirAsia X to AirAsia Group and take on the impending IPO of Indonesia and Philippines. He will also be in charge of MNA activity," he added.