It has just been announced that Kenya Airways' CEO, Sebastian Mikosz, will be stepping down as of the end of 2019, well ahead of the end of his contract. Per a letter sent to employees: “I have made the decision to shorten my contract term and I have decided to resign on personal grounds effective…
Continue reading: Kenya Airways CEO Resigns — What Happened?
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Sebastian said he would resign if he didn't get his way on the JKIA takeover. He didn't get his way, so he resigned. Credit to him for not making empty threats.
@Lucky -- A typo: "... executive his plan" > I think you mean "execute his plan".
So many mixed metaphors and idioms packed into one article by the Daily Nation! Sinks with his ship; rock and a hard place; he jumped; dug his own grave; kitchen cabinet; eating its lunch. I’d be fired if I turned in something like that at my job.
If that Nation article is anything to go by, then he clearly had a vision. Then again, i don't always believe what that newspaper rights because lots of it is scrap.
I wonder where Sebastian will go next.
Can KQ afford Thierry Antinori? I heard he's in the market....
THis is all soooo familiar...
Probably the same reason(s) which drove me to jump ship at Nigeria Airways in the 1980's after only 1 month (not as CEO, just Sales Manager Europe AND Director France) and to flatly turn down employment at another African airline as soon as I heard the name. One has to see by oneself the delusions by some of these carriers and the hoops one is supposed to jump through while having no power at all.
Sad but obvious.
Lucky there was a take over call it a “coup” at Avianca. The new CEO is the guy who was handling Taca before the merge. You should report on that as well
Maybe Mikosz will end up replacing Thierry Antinori at Emirates. It's obvious that Emirates needs some help turning their ship around after the mass firings of a several executives this month. Although, it's certainly not a job that many want at the moment.
Foreign management of airlines in corrupt third world countries just doesn't work long term. The parasites displaced from their corruption perches will undermine honest, foreign management until they regain their positions. SAS turning Thai Airways around then getting the boot comes to mind.
Trying to sail in two boats at a time.. KQ, JKIA.. In the name of cost cutting was heading to brand KQ as low cost carrier as LOP. Good he is going before messing up more..
It’s practically impossible to manage anything that the government has a stake on in Kenya. If you want your sanity, the only way is to resign and be peaceful. We wait to see who jumps in!
Ben perhaps you should get the job and be an actual CEO rather than an armchair one. I think your posts would have a very different (and more interesting) outlook.
I guess "executive" could be a verb in American English. I hadn't considered that.
The problem with Kenya Airways is political decisions superseding economic decisions. Also throw in nepotism, corruption, malfeasance and incompetent senior and support staff. Too much for a professional to handle.
Lucky, by your statement that Sebastian Mikosz is a really nice guy I can tell you are a very naïve person. Check with the staff of LOT Polish airlines and Kenya airways, they will tell you that Sebastian Mikosz is rude, arrogant, selfish, stupid and incompetent. He never cares about his peers as the only thing knows is to trim work force to reduce cost. Sebastian Mikosz did not turn around LOT Polish airlines in 2014 as he always lies. He simply used the compensation from Boeing for the Dreamliner and falsely declared it as operating profit. In 2015, LOT lost a jaw dropping US$70M when the price of fuel was lower than 2014 so the fat Polish pig was fired by the Polish government. They did not even want him to serve his notice of one month and told him to leave by the end of August, 2015. The fact is Sebastian Mikosz will be fired by the board of Kenya airways if he chooses to stay. As a journalist, I hope you can check all your facts before making conclusion.
Thank Heavens , his days were numbered as soon as he started making negative comments on the new KQ , NYC Flight. Perhaps I will fly KQ now. Besides he really did nothing for a beautiful country and it's people. Tourism has massive potential in Kenya and national champion strong and steady is the need of the hour.
There's no way s foreigner can turn around an organization in which an African government has interest, eg KQ. While the CEO will want to make prudent economic decisions, the local Lootalls will intervene with a view to looting from the organization.
Man Eat Man Society!!
What happened? Come on this is Africa: no doubt not enough bulging brown envelopes under the table; not enough free flights and upgrades for family and friends of politicians et al; and the locals think they can run it better, a la SAA.
@ lucky
Under Sebastian we were able to launch the JFK route , increased frequencies to many destinations, GVA and FCO flights are launching on 1st june this year ..He also talked about launching DEL , TLV and PEK routes. He has good ideas of turning KQ but our government never supported him ,all what they can comment is that he earns much..I love KQ and my country too but they never support aviation well enough like the other countries....The green terminal deal,the second runway idea and the rail line from the airport to the city have all been canceled indefinitely. fingers crossed that he changes his resignation brains by Dec 31st ...
Sebastian stood behind what he has committed to, so you might not like him, and disagree with his methods, but you cannot take away from him the courage to come here and try, despite perception of Kenya.
Unfortunately I don't think there is a professional out there who could turn around an African airline, simply won't work without bribing all the greedy stakeholders, and Europeans simply lack local connections and are not used to this level of corruption, this is another sad proof that Kenya is 3rd world country.
One judge's the merits or lack thereof of a CEO by results.
Simple.
●Has he been paid handsomely? YES
●Has the airline posted any profits or broke even for the period within his contract ? NO
●Have the shareholders been paid dividends within the same period? NO
REALLY!
He sounds , to me, like one who embarked on a divide and rule role and still hoped to win a popularity contest and all this done while enjoying monetary comfort.
He does not strike me as one who came to roll up his sleeves,do whatever needs to be done and turn KQ back to prfitability thereby giving credence to 'the pride of Africa 'slogan.