FWIW I've been lurking for a few days, eyebrows steadily rising...
If I've got the sums right the claim is command on the T7 at BA with 8 years mainline seniority in BA in around 2013, plus or minus..
AFAIK that could only have been achieved via a management route.
I was on that fleet at the time and also for a long time after and any such appointment grossly out of seniority would have been the subject of much discussion...(it certainly was when a very junior management appointment happened on the 744)....never heard a squeak about any such happening on the T7.
Being a long term French resident I'm not sure about that easing into AF is really that simple…
Still, never say never, somehow all could be legit.(as mentioned up thread something along the lines of a consequence of the Midland deal) .. in any event it's got people talking....