BA Management (Split From T5 Thread)
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20,00 staff? Good grief. Surely that's part of the problem. The ar$e isn't talking to the elbow enough.
/I reckon most of Manchester Airports Group senior management could do this job. They're great.
/sarcasm.
/I reckon most of Manchester Airports Group senior management could do this job. They're great.
/sarcasm.
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Bonus time...
Now we know (if we didn't already) why willie's hanging on in there:
http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited...fx4995222.html
Allegedly 100% bonus for "meet City forecasts" - so if the city expected T5 to be a f**k-up, then he's met expectations...
http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited...fx4995222.html
Allegedly 100% bonus for "meet City forecasts" - so if the city expected T5 to be a f**k-up, then he's met expectations...
Jolly Green Giant
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BA begins search for successor for Walsh
Could fit in with the rumour Walsh has been earmarked for FR....
Today in the press
Monday, 12 May 2008 08:56
BA STARTS SEARCH FOR POTENTIAL SUCCESSOR TO CEO WALSH -
The London Independent says that British Airways has appointed the recruitment consultants Whitehead Mann to find a new chief operating officer and possible successor for its embattled chief executive Willie Walsh. The successful candidate will a fill a newly created role, which was devised after the recent Heathrow Terminal 5 fiasco.
Both BA's director of operations, Gareth Kirkwood, and head of customer service, David Noyes, parted company with the group last month. The two roles will now be combined to create the position of chief operating officer. The airline, which will publish its full-year results on Monday, is believed to have instructed Whitehead Mann to find a senior level candidate who could be considered for a position on the board within two years, and could also be a potential replacement for Mr Walsh within five years.
Mr Walsh may well not make it through another five years in the job, however. Both he and his board colleagues have come under fire over the past few weeks, over their handling of BA's switch-over to Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Having failed to adequately train their staff and test the new facilities, thousands of customers found their flights cancelled or delayed when the terminal opened at the end of March. The airline also managed to lose some 20,000 pieces of luggage.
Monday, 12 May 2008 08:56
BA STARTS SEARCH FOR POTENTIAL SUCCESSOR TO CEO WALSH -
The London Independent says that British Airways has appointed the recruitment consultants Whitehead Mann to find a new chief operating officer and possible successor for its embattled chief executive Willie Walsh. The successful candidate will a fill a newly created role, which was devised after the recent Heathrow Terminal 5 fiasco.
Both BA's director of operations, Gareth Kirkwood, and head of customer service, David Noyes, parted company with the group last month. The two roles will now be combined to create the position of chief operating officer. The airline, which will publish its full-year results on Monday, is believed to have instructed Whitehead Mann to find a senior level candidate who could be considered for a position on the board within two years, and could also be a potential replacement for Mr Walsh within five years.
Mr Walsh may well not make it through another five years in the job, however. Both he and his board colleagues have come under fire over the past few weeks, over their handling of BA's switch-over to Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Having failed to adequately train their staff and test the new facilities, thousands of customers found their flights cancelled or delayed when the terminal opened at the end of March. The airline also managed to lose some 20,000 pieces of luggage.
I recommend Barbara Cassini and I claim the £100,000 introduction fee 
If WW has already been lined up by Ryanair as M O'Ls replacement then the sooner he (or anyone else in such a position) is seen off the premises, the better. Come on BA board, get a grip.
If WW has already been lined up by Ryanair as M O'Ls replacement then the sooner he (or anyone else in such a position) is seen off the premises, the better. Come on BA board, get a grip.
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BAW must go for a leader with a vision. Who's claiming to make a profit when everybody else in the industry is "depressed"? EK must have someone interested in the position. If BAW wants a profit in few years, that the guy in EY will make it. Last but not least, you have the brilliant AAB from QR. I believe being a National is not a requirement.
Sorry guys. Sands are moving around me. It's just a tentative to light up the subject. Good luck BAW!
Sorry guys. Sands are moving around me. It's just a tentative to light up the subject. Good luck BAW!
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steve mclaren, avram grant, sven, or maybe that guy from m&s! seriously cassani would send a bold message for the future, though the old gits on the board might need to wake up a bit. 
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May I suggest Mr Chipperfield.
He has a wealth of knowledge, used to dealing with all sorts of tricky situations, and has experience in running a large tent full of clowns
BA are now playing 'catch-up' on their own patch, nevermind the worldwide route network.
If action is not taken - NOW, it may be too late to save London Airways...
He has a wealth of knowledge, used to dealing with all sorts of tricky situations, and has experience in running a large tent full of clowns
BA are now playing 'catch-up' on their own patch, nevermind the worldwide route network.
If action is not taken - NOW, it may be too late to save London Airways...
I would expect that once the new person has their feet under the desk, Walsh will be gone within Eighteen months or less. If there are any more unpopular changes to BA's operations that need to be made (for example outsourcing, cost cutting) then Walsh will be urged by the Board to make them now. His successor will then arrive, all sweetness and light, as part of the "healing" process.
....At least that's the way I'd play it at Board level. Nobody is going to take that job unless they have an unspoken fast track to Walsh's desk, but even then with the existing Board and Chairman, I'm not sure it's a "do-able" job.
I think it also demonstrates rather neatly why senior executives get paid very high salaries. Cleaning up BA's image and product is going to be a very difficult and probably thankless task, with an uncertain outcome. Anyone embarking on such a perilous voyage would be entitled in my opinion to demand a very high, price and a guaranteed financial result for themselves no matter what the outcome.....ie: Golden Handcuffs and a Golden parachute.
....At least that's the way I'd play it at Board level. Nobody is going to take that job unless they have an unspoken fast track to Walsh's desk, but even then with the existing Board and Chairman, I'm not sure it's a "do-able" job.
I think it also demonstrates rather neatly why senior executives get paid very high salaries. Cleaning up BA's image and product is going to be a very difficult and probably thankless task, with an uncertain outcome. Anyone embarking on such a perilous voyage would be entitled in my opinion to demand a very high, price and a guaranteed financial result for themselves no matter what the outcome.....ie: Golden Handcuffs and a Golden parachute.
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I think Barbara Cassani is an excellent choice... I had friends who were at 'go-fly' and although B.A. is a totally different ball-game, I think she would do it justice. My friends say she was very 'user friendly' and got the job done very well apparantly. It could be said that WW came from a small company Futura through Aer Lingus & to British Airways, so why not Ms. Cassani who I think is at 'Clickair' or 'Vueling' Interesting times ahead methinks... 
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It could be said that WW came from a small company Futura through Aer Lingus & to British Airways, so why not Ms. Cassani who I think is at 'Clickair' or 'Vueling' Interesting times ahead methinks...
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Apparantly, he joined Aer Lingus in 1979 as a 17 year old pilot trainee, whilst doing a business administration degree at Trinity College in Dublin. He rose through the ranks to become a captain, and then was 'seconded' to Futura to sort-it-out before being appointed chief operating officer of Aer Lingus in 2000 and then being 'given' the role of CEO in 2001. Not bad really. He did turn Aer Lingus around in the wake of September the 11th where most people thought he would fail. It's just such a pity that his name seems to be tarnished now by association wth B.A. I sort of think that he may have bitten off more than he can chew in trying to turn B.A. around..? 
Futura was initially a 50-50 joint venture between Aer Lingus and Spanish investors for the Northern Europe - Spain holiday market. EI's share has since been diluted, by adding Spanish investment. Although on the face of it a Spanish operator they also have a Dublin crew base and dominate the IT market from Ireland to Spain. The Spanish banks provided the money and Aer Lingus the aviation knowledge (and WW). Futura's official name is Hispano Irlandesa Aviacion SA.
