Air India appoints expat Capt Baldauf as first COO
07 Apr 2010
Mumbai: Struggling national carrier Air India has announced Tuesday the appointment of Capt Gustav Baldauf as its first chief operating officer (COO) making him the first expatriate in the flag carrier's management team.
His appointment was cleared at Air India's Tuesday board meeting.
Capt Baldauf is currently senior director, marketing, at Air Canada.
This will not be Baldauf's first India posting as he has had an earlier stint with private Indian carrier Jet Airways in 2005 as vice-president, flight operations.
Baldauf, an Austrian national, is an experienced professional with over 26 years of flying experience in Austrian Airlines.
He is also a type rated examiner/instructor.
Baldauf's appointment to the top levels of the job won't be the first for state-owned carriers and Air India as JRD Tata, a licensed pilot, helmed it through its foundational days. Another professional Capt DK Bose was managing director some 15-20 years ago.
Capt K Cheddha was CMD of Indian Airlines from 1985.
