Bjorn Naf confirmed as acting PCE

Understand this could be for as much as up to 4 months with the possibility of no parole for good behaviour.

Can anybody elaborate on "criminal investigation"?

Gulf Air CEO Dose resigns; chairman says carrier under 'criminal investigation'
Tuesday July 24, 2007
Gulf Air's board of directors yesterday accepted the resignation of CEO Andre Dose, effective immediately, ending the former Crossair and Swiss International Air Lines CEO's tenure less than four months after he joined the Bahrain-based carrier and unveiled a major restructuring program.

The sudden resignation came just days after Gulf Air Chairman Mahmood Hashim Al Kooheji confirmed that the airline is being investigated by Bahrain prosecutors. Speaking last week to Gulf Daily News, Kooheji said, "There is a criminal investigation from the public prosecutor and we have been advised not to make any comment or talk about the case." He added that he had told all airline employees, "Guys this is a public prosecution investigation; I want everybody to shut up."

It is not clear if the probe and Dose's resignation are related. The Gulf Air board gave no explanation for the CEO's departure, saying in a statement issued yesterday that "it has been mutually agreed" he would leave the company. It "thanked" Dose for "his assistance" and said the restructuring program he initiated would move forward. "The board is highly optimistic and trusts that the company will have a promising future, especially after the implementation of the company's network optimization and restructuring plan," the statement said.

Dose became Gulf Air's CEO in early April and later that month admitted the carrier was losing more than $1 million daily. He initiated an extensive restructuring that calls for a transition from a mixed fleet of 34 aircraft to an all-Airbus fleet comprising 28 aircraft focused mostly on serving the Middle East (ATWOnline, April 18). "We have tough times ahead of us," he said when he announced the program. "But we need these measures to ensure survival of the company."

The airline said the modernization was being funded by an $825 million infusion from its owners, the governments of Bahrain and Oman. However, Oman has signed a letter of intent to withdraw its holding later this year, leaving Bahrain as the sole owner.

In yesterday's statement, Gulf Air's board said it had developed and approved a plan that would "ensure transparency and adherence to the rules and regulations of the Kingdom of Bahrain." It added that the airline would be overseen by Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Co., a government-controlled entity.

Come on guys, we at swiss were very happy when he left, and at least it went up after him.....:{

... thanks to loads of taxpayer's $$$$$$ :\

Why all of a sudden Bahrain is getting very tough with people stealing GF properties?? Where were they all these years?

Even when GF was shared with Oman, AUH, and Qatar Bahraini money was there! but they never really put their foot down! This shold have been done long time ago!

It is always better later than never

Bjorn Naf confirmed as acting PCE
 

they gonna eat him alive!!!
bn ceo!! what a joke!! the guy is good for a f/o position in the center of africa

Why waste time and money on an investigation......just ask the long term employees they can tell you who stole all the money!

Do these pr##ks realise they have made GF into an Aviation Joke...but then again why should they worry their bank accounts are full, its only the employees that will suffer!

Lets hope that somehow those Fat cats get their just rewards.

Who can confirm that BN is now A/PCE?

It's in the GDN today.

Must have been a late edition. Oh well. Guess he's got nothing to lose.

It was an internal Memo at 19:31 24th Jul

Today's GDN
 

By MARK SUMMERS
MANAMA
GULF Air declared "business as usual" as chief operating officer Bjorn NŠf stepped in as acting president and chief executive last night, following Andre Dose's resignation. Mr Dose, who resigned on Sunday after just four months in the job, following clashes with the board, is understood to be leaving Bahrain tomorrow. The airline will continue to look for a permanent replacement, the airline said yesterday.
Mr NŠf, fresh back in Bahrain from a trip to his native Switzerland, said it was business as usual.
"I feel comfortable and of course the plan has not changed. We will move forward on the plan we set out on four months ago," he said.
Mr NŠf would not comment further, saying he would be addressing a Press conference today.
He was brought in by Mr Dose, a fellow Swiss, as his right-hand man and to help push forward the airline's recovery, through job and route cuts, plus other cost-saving measures.
Mr NŠf's caretaker appointment came after a meeting with the board at Gulf Air's Muharraq headquarters.
The airline said the search for a permanent president and chief executive had begun and the post was open for Bahrainis and other nationalities.
The next person to fill the role will be selected purely on their qualifications and experience, it said in a statement.
Mr NŠf has been instrumental in implementing Gulf Air's new revamped network, which is based on a "wave model" and was launched on July 1.
He is also spearheading an initiative to boost the carrier's punctuality, which Gulf Air claimed was improving every day under his command.
"Mr NŠf's proven multi-tasking capabilities, gained over the years in the air travel industry, suit his new role perfectly," the airline said in its statement.
The 42-year-old begun his aviation carrier in 1990 with airline pilot training in the US and Switzerland.
Mr Naf worked with Mr Dose at both Swiss International Airlines and Crossair before renewing their partnership - albeit for only four months - at Gulf Air.
From the early 1990s to late 2000, he served in various departments at Crossair, also serving as a captain for the airline.
Mr NŠf also served as the executive vice-president for product and services at Swiss International Airlines, overseeing cabin crew, ground services, operations control centre, product management and development and also customer services.
Mr NŠf joined Gulf Air from Transafrik International, Kenya, where as chief executive officer, he oversaw international cargo, humanitarian and relief flights for the United Nations. :\

It does not look good falks!

bahriani aplications- on top of desk
other natonalities- in the cilindrical file.

Freebies
 

I have to laugh hearing Bahrainis blame the expats for robbing the airline blind.
The locals have been raping it ever since they found out how far they could shove their snouts in the trough.

I work with one Bahraini colleague who only ever flies up the front and pays economy prices, simply because his uncle is on the board.

The cronyism and corruption is beyond belief.

I love hearing the locals try and blame Hogan - not that I'm a big fan of the bloke, but seriously, do you really think he sold the London HQ without the board's knowledge?

It's time some of our Bahraini posters took a look at Animal Farm (and I mean the book, not the video).

Desertia has a one sided hearing
 

Have you not heard of Bahrainis being blamed, by the likes of you, and that’s without being in control.

If Bahrainis blame an expat it is because he was at the helm at the time, who would you like us to mention, the pilot on line. Besides there is a good reason why these blokes are labeled “Accountable Manager”.

If Bahrainis get blamed by the likes of you even when an expat was at the helm, then god help them when it is really their fault.

And because you worked with one Bahraini, now you want to crucify them all. That says a great deal about you, doesn’t it?

If we worked by your blame policies and tactics, then well, the smart ones know what I was going to say if I was to continue typing, but I will stop here.…

Now lets no get excited and point fingers boys...but desertia has a point. You think these managers have all the power they need? Why do you think Dose resigned? The Expats unfortunately are the scape goats. They're just puppets. Told what to do and when it goes wrong they have to take the blame for it. Thats one of the main reasons for Dose leaving. He wants to take the responsibility for things he does. Not be told what to do then get shafted and blamed cause it was not his idea. James Hogan came and sold all the assets. Yeah and the big boys in Bahrain just let him do it...ha ha if any of you believe that then says a lot about you.......

Stratosphere6000 is in equilibrium
 

Stratosphere6000, you make valid points and I respect that, at least you are not one sided.

Good for you

All you tossers now talking about expats stealing perhaps have a very short memory.

I guess Assiyabie was expat was he? When he was faced with an investigation he threatened to name some "high profile" names and the case was quickly dropped. Do you remember how many million BD disappeared

The Qatari ex PCE who opened a flight school in Doha and forced GF to send cadets there at more than double the price of Oxford was expat as well was he?

I can go on but I dont want to name others closer to home.

Wake up people, corruption has no nationality

Capt Al Fakhem has a foul mouth to match his personality
 

List you foul mouth, we are talking now, how far back do you want to go, back to Hitler and blame it all on him? As you cry babies tend to do. Grow up will you. FYI, foul language on forums only hurts you, and the Moderator will be on to you.

Super, Al Fakhem wrote that corruption knows no nationality.

Now, that sounds like a pretty neutral statement to me, if not THE most neutral yet said in this thread.

Why don't you leave it at that, and let's get on with the issue...this Bahraini vs expat-thing is boring me to death?

Spirit has Good Spirit
 

I for one respect your Spirit as it were, and lets move on. :ok:

Next PCE
 

It's more than 100% likely that the next PCE will be a Bahraini.
But whom?
I hear from a few well placed sources that that person will have to be a Sunni moslem - as only a sunni is allowed to run anything remotely to do with the government in Bahrain.
So, in doing this, you allow the neoptism and corruption to carry on. In fact it will only create polarisation amongst the bahrani staff, as there bosses (sunni) get richer on the back of them (shia).

Before I am blasted out of the water, remember in Bahrain there is a big sunni vs shia thing. The Shia make up the majority of the bahranis (and workforce in GF) but its the sunni's who have the power and are the ones pulling the strings in the background at GF.

When an Australian CEO comes, we fly to Australia;
When a Swiss CEO comes, we (almost) fly to Switzerland;
With a Bahraini CEO comes, we will fly (only) to .................;)
(As it almost happened had the last Bahraini CEO lasted or had spent more time in the office instead of flying over a 100 hours a month in his 'gratis' command)
Taking a cue from that, can GF restore some 'circling' approaches and also introduce sightseeing flights over the beautiful island (Saudi Causeway, Pearl Roundabout, Dairy Queen traffic lights, et al)
Despite all the above, I still wish for a Bahraini CEO - it will take the flak away from the expats for a while, who in any case should not be blamed for the foul selection of CEOs, to start with.

Players change, same game. I'm glad that's happened. A overhaul will only take us back to square one. Let's just run with the current plan and see it to fruition. All those who have paniced, I think it's still premature. So far so good.

QUOTE

With a Bahraini CEO comes, we will fly (only) to .................;)

Casablanca of course !!!!!!!!!

that wasnt a bad nightstop:E

Ah the wonderful flight training establishment in Doha, where Oxford cadets who failed time and time again suddenly passed with flying (no pun) colors first time around!

Can't see GF lasting much longer now at all, not in any state worth respecting and staying for anyway. The 'old boys club' is in process already with the recently promoted GCC nationals keeping their cousins close by.

Locals foul mouthing AD the day he resigned saying it wasn't a day too late.

Expats aghast at the the recent events.

More instability than San Andreas fault!

Sal-e i think the problem is there isn't a current plan...punching out now wouldn't be premature. Rather do that than ride the flaming jet into the ground. Maybe they put out the fire, maybe they don't. I'll watch it from a nice safe far away place :)

What A Pity !
 

What a pity (putting it mildly !!) I was heading out there later this month
but I don't think I'l bother now :confused:

CEO being Ex Captain will always Focus on Flight Ops More then
Making decision to make money and profit for the airline

sory to say it bud, but i think his quals as a mba mean more than his captan experience. being a pilot means sqot. i wouldnt trust most pilots to run a hoar house, much less an airline.

Hey Super Dumper,
We can not have Pinnocchio on the board, every will know when he is lying about where all the money went.:E:E:ooh::ooh:

To Vomit Comet,
You are right Casablanca was not a bad night stop. But it was not a good one either. Walk outside to hotel was like stepping back to where time forgot.:E

Have to agree with Wastafarian, but they do a good job landing and taking off though. And I don't mean taking off to the competition.:E

tbylx,
there is a plan. And it's to get this airline running again (remember 'get well gulfair'?). Of course we may have different ideas on this. It's either expansion with new aircrafts and routes OR contraction with cost cutting and the current older planes. Unfortunately for pilots, they've chosen the latter (least risk). Either way may make or break the company and/or the country, the difference being a matter of how fast.
The rest now will be up to loads and yields. From a pilot's point of view, one can hang around and see (I'll be one of them) or, as you so colourfully put it, watch the blaze from a safe distance. Thankfully, there is a chronic pilot shortage worldwide so we can actually entertain both options without worrying too much.
Safe flying.

From today's GDN:Now that's irony for ya'!;)

Good one SG. very witty.

For more serious matters now. I for one am very seriously considering retracting my resignation and staying back, I think we probably have passed the worst (well, Can’t get any worse) and improvement should be on the way.
FWIW, I meet B. Naf a few times and I think I trust the guy, he sounds genuine, and welling to work on all fronts, the best thing I sensed about him is that he is willing to listen especially if you have something to say about improvement he will give you the time.
This is not an invitation for you to withdraw your resignation. However it is an invitation to keep an open mind and a close eye on how things are shaping up, this is specially for those who have been here a while, it’s a shame to waste your seniority and the relatively higher pay to go to the unknown for the same or slightly less pay (to reiterate, those who have been here a while).

Spirit wrote:

Super, Al Fakhem wrote that corruption knows no nationality.


I have written nothing of the sort, mate. Where on earth do you get this from?

Guys!

don't you see that the Board of Directors is running the show ?

Nothing will change, they will continue to downsize and try to transform Gulf Air in a way, that they can sell it quickly to the private sector...

Where is GF going strategically? nobody does really care actually, we are more interested in personnal issues of who and what. Obviously we are not competing with QR / EK / EY to be an 'international' airline anymore...

so maybe are we trying to be another 'Regional Carrier', we are then competing directly with Air Arabia, Jazeera Airways and their likes. The problem is that these structures have very lean organisation and are making big profits (GDN yesterday: Arabia profit up by 111% ) so again we can't compete.

So were are we going?

BD