I had been led to believe that the President and CEO of THAI was pretty successful in helping turn the airline around. He certainly increased profits and improved the management of the airline. According to the Board who yesterday voted 12-0 to fire him, however, there had been “communications problems” with his fellow Board members.

 

Far more likely, it seems, is that Khun Piyasvasti was fired for a mix of political reasons and his investigations into corruption in the airline – classic reasons in Thailand for firing successful CEOs. In my view, the thought of individual Board members micromanaging THAI’s operations doesn’t bode well for the future of the airline’s turnaround.

 

Mr Piyasvasti said his evaluation score was 86% and he thought his removal from his post was politically influenced. Mr Ampon (THAI’s Chairman) did not accept this.

 

Mr Piyasvasti said it was also possible that his firing resulted from someone who wanted his position, from his investigations into graft at THAI, and from his punishment of corrupt THAI staff who might have sought help from some powerful figures.

 

He said he would take legal action if he found the dismissal tarnished his reputation.

 

"The board has the right to end my employment but it must explain why clearly to the public. It is a pity that the management will suffer a setback from now on. That is the board intervening in all management issues, be it oil risk management, procurement or appointing or reshuffling all positions," Mr Piyasvasti said.

 

He pointed out that he had brought THAI back from a loss of more than 20 billion baht to profits in two years and managed its costs including those of fuel toward a targeted profit of 6 billion baht this year.

 

 

http://www.bangkokpo...ti-as-president

According to the Board who yesterday voted 12-0 to fire him, however, there had been “communications problems” with his fellow Board members.

 

Looks fishy to me.

 

Many airlines suffer from periods of under-performance. It would be interesting to know the position of the Thai government in this. Surely it is a matter of serious loss of face if the national airline is seen to struggle. If an airline is not truly independent then its executives will know there'll always be the comfort of a safety net.

If he is the one that closed my LAX to BKK non stop, he should have been fired. It was an inconvenience.