Mar 2006 Financial News

English CEO for BWIA

Mar 20, 2006

On the verge of BWIA’s transformation into a new entity, the airline’s chief executive officer Nelson Tom Yew has resigned and an Englishman, Peter Davies, has replaced him.

Tom Yew’s resignation and Davies appointment were relayed to the airline’s staff on Friday afternoon via a memo from the company’s board of directors, which is led by businessman Arthur Lok Jack.

Staff were informed that Tom Yew handed in a letter of resignation—with immediate effect—Friday, but accepted a position as an adviser to the board until October 30, 2006.

Tom Yew, the memo added, had initially accepted the CEO appointment last year as an interim measure to “assist the Board in the management and operations of the airline during the search for an executive to lead the restructuring, transformation and turnaround of BWIA.”

Staff members said, however, that Davies, former CEO of SN Brussels Airline, had been active in the role prior to Tom Yew’s official resignation, meeting with staff and becoming familiar with BWIA’s day to day operations since February 1.

Staff members also said that on a recent visit, Davies’ wife was walking around BWIA’s Port-of-Spain call centre asking staff about the department’s operation.

“Staffers are looking on with interest to see what additional changes will be made to BWIA’s executive,” said one source.

On April 1, BWIA West Indies Airways, as the airline is currently officially known, will change its name to BWIA Caribbean Airways as the first step in a Government-mandated restructuring programme.

Gizelle Morris
The Trinidad Guardian
Sunday, 19th March, 2006.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-03-19/news12.html