Christoph Mueller is in charge of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) effective Friday as its new managing director and CEO #malaysiaairlines #mas

Mueller takes charge at MAS

BY B.K. SIDHU

 

PETALING JAYA: Christoph Mueller is in charge of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) effective Friday as its new managing director and CEO. He is the first foreigner to head the national carrier.

The handing over of the reins at MAS was done Thursday in a ceremony witnessed by MAS chairman Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof and the MAS management committee.

“Christoph, you have control,” said outgoing MAS group CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya to Mueller during the symbolic handing-over of leadership of the national carrier, the airline said in a statement.

Out-going Malaysia Airlines Group CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya (front row, 4th from right) handing over the reins to Christoph Mueller (front row, 3rd from left) at a ceremony witnessed by MAS Chairman Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof (front row, 4th from left).

 

Mueller has his job cut out for him to turn the airline to profitability. He has to decide what would be the best operating model for the airline and whether focusing on regional routes alone will give the airline enough money to turn profitable.

All eyes will be on him as to how he handles the powerful unions in MAS until the migration of the existing operations to the new company, MAS Bhd on Sept 1.

He also has to select the management team that will assist him and all those employees that he wants to take across to MAS Bhd.