Malaysia Airlines CEO Christoph Mueller — the man with 25 years of airline experience who turned around Aer Lingus — is leaving Malaysia Airlines “due to a change in his personal circumstances” less than halfway through his contract. His departure throws the carrier’s restructuring plans into limbo.
In addition to the harrowing losses of two Malaysia Airlines 777s in 2014, one of which remains missing, MAS has been fighting competition for years in its own backyard. The double-whammy nearly destroyed the carrier and Mueller was brought on to try to weather the storm and help guide the carrier back to sustainability.
Mueller issued the following cryptic statement concerning his departure–
I am proud of what we have achieved as a team in such a short time … unfortunately, personal circumstances will make it difficult for me to complete my full term.
Well, let’s file this under developing. Mueller will stay until September and be involved in recruiting his replacement and even after his departure will remain a non-executive director.
Check out this recent interview of Mueller by Richard Quest.
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