Leadership
SCMP Letters 03 June 2001
Cathay boss's reaction fundamentally worrying
I refer to the report headlined "Sacked nut-throwing pilot loses his appeal (Sunday Morning Post, May 27). The report related to senior Cathay Pacific pilot Captain Scott Munro who was sacked for "allegedly throwing nuts" at Cathay's chief executive officer David Turnbull.
Mr. Turnbull has suffered a minor unpleasantness in this "peanut affair". Having some nuts thrown at you in a bar is something anyone should be able to deal with face to face and on the spot, causing minimal fuss.
Instead we see a senior pilot's career ruined with the loss to the airline of presumably one of its top pilots.
I find the actions of this public company s CEO not only manifestly disproportionate, but also fundamentally worrying. Can Mr. Turnbull demonstrate that his embarrassment over a few tossed peanuts justifies the loss to Cathay of its substantial investment in this senior pilot and is indeed in the best interests of the company and its shareholders?
My reaction to this matter is that it is indeed Mr. Turnbull's behaviour that is prejudicial to the best interests and good name of Cathay.
Signed …