THAI sidelines top executives
July 19, 2010 by Rapeepat Mantanarat
Filed under Aviation
BANGKOK, 19 July 2010 — Thai Airways International board of directors sidelined executive vice president, commercial, Pruet Boobphakam, to an inactive post over allegations relating to a cargo aircraft deal.
Mr Pruet was transferred to a post of special advisor attached to the Office of the President. The post was created specifically for Mr Pruet and will be dissolved after Mr Pruet retires or leaves the company.
THAI’s Managing Director, Catering Department, Teerapol Chotichanapibal, was appointed acting executive vice-president, commercial.
Other changes in management are:
• Vice-president, general administration department, Charatpong Burutratanaphan, appointed special advisor, Office of the President.
• Deputy vice-president, general administration department, Griangsak Sakruangngam, appointed acting vice-president, general administration department
Mr Pruet faces an investigation committee appointed to study allegations relating to the lease of two Southern Air B777F freighters leased from the US company, last October, before the board had granted its approval.
The lease took effect 14 days before airline president, Piyasvasti Amranand took office, while Mr Pruet was in transition from the post of cargo and mail director to the EVP commercial post.
The board has appointed a probe committee to investigate the case. A TG source said Mr Pruet would defend his action to the committee and has officially denied all allegations.
A year ago, the THAI president introduced what he calls a “whistle blowing” policy that allowed disgruntled staff to forward anonymous tip-offs to the president’s office that usually lead to an unofficial inquiry to determine if there are grounds for a full investigation.
At the same board meeting, the board acknowledged cargo performance last June had improved by 25.57% when compared with June 2009, and 1.32% higher than in May 2010. Cargo Revenue Ton/km (RTK) was 58.23% higher compared to the same month last year. The load factor averaged at 65.27%, which was 26.00% higher than in June 2009.
I wonder what the Whistle Blower will get if information proves correct???
There maybe other personal involved who wont lift their head incase the fan is turned.
Everyone who knows the truth behind Mr. Pruet removal will tell you that the current Thai Airways management is moving years backwards in this issue. It has nothing to do with what he is accused of doing but merely an excuse to remove him. In today’s modern aviation industry, there is no place for egoistic leadership and political interference.
Time will reveal the truth. It is indeed a sad day in Thai Airways International.
I agree it is a sad day for Thai Airways. The company’s own results released recently show that the freighter operation contributed to a dramatic rise in freight performance and that the timing was perfect – picking up a rapidly recovering market as the world moved out of the recession.
Rather than celebrate the good strategic move the company again faces political interference that sidelines a gifted manager with the potential to really lift the company’s fortunes at a most difficult time for Thailand. An own goal …… again