R Eddington to leave BA
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RE seemed to have some sound ideas about how to run BA (getting rid of those stupid tail fin designs was one of them!). It is such a shame the majority of his ideas fell down because of union agreements working against him.
Most departments with these agreements will not let go. Many departments will fight hard to hang on to their little arangements and not budge an inch because they all think that the "other" departments within the company are less efficient.
I can understand his frustration. I think this frustration has had a large part to play in his intended demise from the helm.
Rod has achieved a few good things for BA. Firstly, the company is still going.
Second, it is a leaner, more productive outfit.
Third, it has a strong corporate identity and a place in the market.
I personally had confidence in Rod running the show. I have doubts that anyone else will do such a good job at the moment.
Shame.
Most departments with these agreements will not let go. Many departments will fight hard to hang on to their little arangements and not budge an inch because they all think that the "other" departments within the company are less efficient.
I can understand his frustration. I think this frustration has had a large part to play in his intended demise from the helm.
Rod has achieved a few good things for BA. Firstly, the company is still going.
Second, it is a leaner, more productive outfit.
Third, it has a strong corporate identity and a place in the market.
I personally had confidence in Rod running the show. I have doubts that anyone else will do such a good job at the moment.
Shame.
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Careful
Eddington did a good job even though dealt a bad hand.If you think he was dreadful perhaps you might like Geoff Dixon.Qantas might be lucky and end up with Eddington.Little Caesar(Borghetti)might be a little upset tho'
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I was lucky enough to get a couple of hours of Rods' time a few months ago, and I can tell you his knowledge of the company and its' problems were immense. He has been "kicking" ass where necessary among management. However, as I mentioned before, he did say that the employement protection laws in the UK make it very difficult to implement the radical changes necessary. He also said that the Board were very aware that "BA employs THOUSANDS of staff who would be more than happy to see BA go to the wall". And they appear to be untouchable. Before we get any comments from posters from the US/ Far East, just remember what little legal employement protection you have compared to the average European. It is extremely difficult to get rid of "bad apples". Why else do we employ some of the people we do?
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I'd go for the heavyweight from the FTSE or elsewhere option, without limiting to aviation chief executives - there is a lot of experience of dealing with many employee groups and upholding brands across UK and world industry that is untapped by limiting options to the aviation personalities mentioned. Cassani would be high on my list as well though.
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Charles Gurassa left TUI some time ago and, I believe, has been on a sabbatical ever since.
IMHO, he was a breath of fresh air when he replaced the old Thomson has beens. I gather he was also pretty popular at BA Cargo before he left there to save Thomson Travel Group.
IMHO, he was a breath of fresh air when he replaced the old Thomson has beens. I gather he was also pretty popular at BA Cargo before he left there to save Thomson Travel Group.
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Ex-Aer Lingus head to take over at BA
Andrew Clark, transport correspondent
Wednesday March 9, 2005
The Guardian
An Irishman whose ruthless job-cutting tactics rescued Aer Lingus was named yesterday as the next head of British Airways, prompting fears of bloodletting at the carrier.
Willie Walsh, 43, who began his career as a 17-year-old pilot at Aer Lingus, is to join BA in May and will take the top job in September on the retirement of the present chief executive, Rod Eddington.
Mr Walsh will be responsible for guiding BA through the opening of Heathrow's fifth terminal in 2008. His priorities are likely to include attempting to squeeze a profit out of BA's short-haul network.
A statement from BA's chairman, Martin Broughton, said: "Willie has an outstanding reputation in the airline industry around the world for the way he transformed the fortunes of Aer Lingus from a high-cost underperforming carrier into a successful and profitable entity."
Mr Eddington, who is to return to his native Australia , won respect for maintaining stability at BA through a series of crises including September 11, the Sars epidemic and soaring oil prices. But his tenure has involved 13,000 job losses and stringent cuts to BA's fleet and route network.
Yesterday's appointment was greeted warily by unions. Mervyn Granshaw, chairman of the pilots' association, Balpa, said cockpit crew had enjoyed a "fruitful relationship" in the past with BA: "We hope to have similar access and a similar relationship with Willie Walsh as clearly that is what is good for the business and good for employees."
During three years as head of Aer Lingus, Mr Walsh cut 2,000 jobs - almost a third of the workforce - and axed business class seats on shorter routes. He also scrapped in-house catering and cut down on cleaning. However, his tenure ended prematurely in January when he resigned with two senior colleagues in a row with the Irish government about his strategy and his enthusiasm for privatising the state-owned airline.
The prime minister, Bertie Ahern, gave him an acerbic send-off by telling parliament that he "did not think three members of senior management should become wealthy overnight from a state company". BA's shares edged up 4.5p to 281p on the news.
Mr Eddington said his successor was an "excellent choice", adding: "He's clear thinking, straightforward and a good communicator."
Andrew Clark, transport correspondent
Wednesday March 9, 2005
The Guardian
An Irishman whose ruthless job-cutting tactics rescued Aer Lingus was named yesterday as the next head of British Airways, prompting fears of bloodletting at the carrier.
Willie Walsh, 43, who began his career as a 17-year-old pilot at Aer Lingus, is to join BA in May and will take the top job in September on the retirement of the present chief executive, Rod Eddington.
Mr Walsh will be responsible for guiding BA through the opening of Heathrow's fifth terminal in 2008. His priorities are likely to include attempting to squeeze a profit out of BA's short-haul network.
A statement from BA's chairman, Martin Broughton, said: "Willie has an outstanding reputation in the airline industry around the world for the way he transformed the fortunes of Aer Lingus from a high-cost underperforming carrier into a successful and profitable entity."
Mr Eddington, who is to return to his native Australia , won respect for maintaining stability at BA through a series of crises including September 11, the Sars epidemic and soaring oil prices. But his tenure has involved 13,000 job losses and stringent cuts to BA's fleet and route network.
Yesterday's appointment was greeted warily by unions. Mervyn Granshaw, chairman of the pilots' association, Balpa, said cockpit crew had enjoyed a "fruitful relationship" in the past with BA: "We hope to have similar access and a similar relationship with Willie Walsh as clearly that is what is good for the business and good for employees."
During three years as head of Aer Lingus, Mr Walsh cut 2,000 jobs - almost a third of the workforce - and axed business class seats on shorter routes. He also scrapped in-house catering and cut down on cleaning. However, his tenure ended prematurely in January when he resigned with two senior colleagues in a row with the Irish government about his strategy and his enthusiasm for privatising the state-owned airline.
The prime minister, Bertie Ahern, gave him an acerbic send-off by telling parliament that he "did not think three members of senior management should become wealthy overnight from a state company". BA's shares edged up 4.5p to 281p on the news.
Mr Eddington said his successor was an "excellent choice", adding: "He's clear thinking, straightforward and a good communicator."
