Gulf Air appoints Björn Näf as Acting President and Chief Executive
Mr. Näf already oversees airlines operations as Chief Operating Officer
Manama, Bahrain – 24 July 2007: The Gulf Air Board of Directors has decided today to appoint Chief Operating Officer Björn Näf as the Acting President and Chief Executive for Bahrain’s national carrier in addition to his duties.
Mr. Näf’s appointment came after a meeting by the Board members at the Gulf Air Headquarters. The search for a permanent President and Chief Executive has begun and is open for Bahrainis and other nationalities; the selection of which will be based on their qualifications and experience.
Mr. Näf, who brings across the broad experience in aviation industry, has been instrumental in implementing the new revamped network launched on July 1. He is also spearheading an initiative to boost the carrier’s punctuality, which is improving everyday under his command.
The new network, based on a “wave” model, offers as many as 588 flights every week in the Middle East with more non-stop flights than any other airline.
Näf’s proven multi-tasking capabilities gained over the years in the air travel industry suits his new role perfectly. The 42-year-old executive had begun his aviation carrier in 1990 with airline pilot training in the US and Switzerland.
From the early 1990s to late 2000, he served in various departments at Crossair. Mr. Näf also served as the Executive Vice President Product and Services for Swiss International Air Lines overseeing cabin crew, ground services, operations control center, product management and development and also customer services. He has also served as captain for Crossair Ltd., Switzerland.
He then went on to graduate from Harvard Business School in Boston, United States after completing an advanced management programme.

Guys guys....the ground work and plan is already in place. It doesn't really matter who's holding the fort right now. Let's see first if the plan works rather than attack individuals. What options might you suggest at this point?

Whether he is good or not is totally besides the point. This airline needs desperately to be re-equipped. WE NEED NEW PLANES. WE NEED NEW PLANES. WE NEED NEW PLANES. WE NEED NEW PLANES.
I think that is what these advisors also (after millions of euros) came up with. Mind you they could have just asked 1 of the baggage handlers.
They says that Naf reads this. Well if you do please please please convince our cheap board that we really ro need new s*** cos our fleet is 1 of the oldest & most run down in the world.:ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh:

If he's that good and liked:confused:, he won't last long. Usually, people like that are disliked by management (in this case Board of Directors). Trust me:ugh:...

he just about to start his ccq non type rated 330-340 as a captain!
so people think he is leaving! do not worry! his has to serve his bond like anybody else! i ve heard its the same likes IB57!

That doesn't mean he won't be kicked out of his post. Pushed or on free will, and if he's too good for the PCE, CEO or COO job, he won' last long... This has been the trend here... I hope GF changes its attitude now that has just one owner:ok:.

How to run Gulf Air
 

Most of the posts above comment on BN\s experience in running an airline.

Well, with Gulf Air you need 2 skills

(i) How to run a business

(ii) How to deal with the Board - this involves all the black arts and Machiavellian, relationship management that is required in this part of the world and when dealing with such directors. It has very little to do with business ability

You can probably stuff up (i) a bit and still do the job. If you cannot do (ii), then you will fail

To Chuck Y
 

Chuck Y,
I really have to agree with you on your last comment that we have the most run down aircraft in the gulf.
THEY ARE CRAP!!!!!!!!! INCLUDING THE SKYBED ONES. THEY JUST DON'T WORK. TECH DELAYS ALL THE TIME, INTERIOR FEATURES DON'T WORK.
Two months ago on a MNL flight ( a night flight) all the reading lights would not switch off and the entertainment system did not work (except for the airshow....). By the way it was a full flight. :ugh::ugh::ugh::eek::eek::eek:.

IF WE CANT GET NEW AIRCRAFT,HOW ABOUT FIXING THE ONES WE GOT:E:E:E:E:E:E:E

Well it seems that even our board/government have no faith in the recovery of GF. It is rumoured that they have stated(behind closed doors as it is of course the Bahraini way:)) that there is NO way GF will place any orders for at least the next 5 years. So enjoy flying these heaps of s*** our board & management call aeroplanes around. :ugh:

:Ethere wont be any planes on the market for the next ten years! ey just swapped their a380 slots for 12 kingfishy a320 slots,because they cant get any on the market! delivery starts jan 2008,so more guys will leave for ey i guess...ccq a320/330..:E

VC, I mean that they will not even place an order for at least 5 years. So add that with the deliver backlog they will not see a new aircraft joining our shining fleet for at least 12 to 13 years. Now that is a hell of a long time & I really don't our planes will hold together for another 12 months let alone 12 years. It's got disaster written all over it.:yuk:

WY has flashed rials in every direction and can't seem to find any mid-sized wings on the secondary market either...good luck!

Airplanes ain't to be had anywhere...except the mohave desert...:uhoh:

getting away from a/c purchasing and back on topic, he seems very young at 42...

thats not a critisism, just an observation.

Look at the bloke who turned Continental around after that ****** Frank Lorenzo filled it full of scabs....age is a "non issue" ability, and most importantly good old fashioned balls is the key...with no fear of politics or otherwise....

GF should be Ok then....

Wasn´t that what André Dosé was doing before he fell out of favor with the Board? Seems to take a little bit more than vision and leadership these days.
Thankfully, Björn´s communiques via ¨Hello Gulf Air¨ inspire some confidence that cool heads are stearing the ship, despite Al Kooheji´s self-contradictory comments in the days following Dosé´s departure.

Inshallah . . . habibi. . . Fingers crossed.

P.J :) Amen

Anybody got any news about the supposedly "excellent" new package?

hello boys:E the new package will be anounced on sunday from what i have heard from several pilots:E