Something brewing at the Air Asia group?

By Sharen Kaur

KUALA LUMPUR: THERE seems to be something brewing at the Air Asia group with some very senior leaders said to be leaving, and Robert Milton playing a more prominent role in the overall operation.
  Milton, the former president and CEO of Air Canada has been a director of AirAsia Bhd since 2013.
  While a key leader at AirAsia Bhd may possibly leave to pursue personal interest, rumours are rife that top officials at subsidiary AirAsia X Bhd (AAX), including its chief executive officer (CEO) Azran Osman Rani, are serving their notice.
  The others include AAX chief financial officer (CFO) Chew Eng Loke and its head of legal, Hanie Izawatie.
  When contacted, Azran neither confirmed nor denied his departure.
  Azran told Business Times that he is still staying put in the long haul budget carrier, which he expects will turnaround soon.
  AAX chairman Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz was quick to brush off when asked to comment on Azran and the AirAsia key leader's purported departure.
  "I have no comment to make. We are having a board meeting this week and there are several things which we will discuss. Just wait for what ever that comes up after the board meeting and the announcements that follow," she told Business Times, when contacted, yesterday.
  Meanwhile, Azran, said he is excited for AAX as there has been some progress in the airline.
  "Things are working out well for AAX. We are excited to show the progress that we have achieved in the fourth quarter of 2014. The results will be announced next month.
  "Last year was an exceptional year because of the market conditions, coupled with what happened in the Malaysian aviation market. Demand from China, one of our biggest markets, had softened. But these are things which have turned around," he said.
  Sources close to the AirAsia group said that there will be major changes taking place at AAX as it has been reporting losses in the past two years, and AirAsia, which is facing pressure from intense competition in the South East Asian region, amid weak market sentiments.
  "The two airlines will be consolidated to create a larger operating airline group and there will be many redundant positions once the exercise is completed," a source said.
  Azran was appointed CEO in July 2010. His initial contract of employment, which was for three years, ended in 2013, and was extended by another three years to July 4, 2016.
  He was hand-picked by Tony to manage and operate AAX. He was hired from satellite television provider Astro where he was senior director of business development. Before Astro he held positions at Bursa Malaysia, and at management consultancies McKinsey & Company and Booz Allen Hamilton.
  Chew joined AAX as CFO effective September 1 2014 while Hanie joined the airline on June 23, 2008, and was promoted to head of legal last year, overseeing compliance issues, aircraft purchase and financing, contracts for airline operations, and managing litigation matters.