My guess, only a guess, goes something like this:
His previous company ecojet was prevented from getting off the ground by the "government"
He had family and friendship connections with LaMia.
He was reportedly short of money.
They gave him a job flying for LaMia, though he was reportedly uncomfortable with the Venezuelan/chavista origins of the company.
So, give him the job of chief pilot in name only and don't involve him in any company decisions or dodgy dealings.
It's ironic that the same source as that article,
eju.tv, reports that he hadn't been paid for 8 months.