Thai turns to Apinan
Company veteran Apinan Sumanaseni has been appointed as Thai’s new president. A graduate of the Royal Thai Air Force Academy and a former pilot, he was selected as the airline’s 14th president over three other internal candidates.
His term will be for four years from May. He takes over from acting president Somchainuk Engtrakul. Board member Somchainuk assumed the role of acting chief after president Kanok Abhiradee was stripped of his authority in August by directors who were angry about the carrier’s deteriorating financial position.
Apinan’s appointment marks a return to hiring a leader from within. Kanok had no airline experience. Apinan, 56, joined Thai in 1975 and spent more than 10 years as a pilot and crew instructor before entering the management ranks.
NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE