Mayrhuber to stay at Lufthansa until 2010

In keeping with its tradition of having long-serving leaders, Lufthansa's supervisory board has extended the term of chairman and chief executive Wolfgang Mayrhuber by five years to the end of 2010.

The move is a major vote of confidence in Mayrhuber, 58, by the board, which took the decision as early as it could. His current five-year contract was due to expire at the end of December.

The chairman of Lufthansa's supervisory board and Mayrhuber's predecessor Jürgen Weber said: "During his two years at the head of the group, Wolfgang Mayrhuber has demonstrated great creativity and determination in further improving Lufthansa's leading international position." Mayrhuber has been with the airline group for over 30 years, beginning as an engineer in Hamburg in 1970 and rising to lead its maintenance business Lufthansa Technik.

Mayrhuber joined the group's executive board in January 2001 and succeeded Weber in June 2003. One of his main decisions to date has been the takeover of Swiss, which was approved by the board on the same day as Mayrhuber's contract was extended.

MARK PILLING LONDON

Source: Airline Business