THAI board sets talks with new president
Thai Airways International's board of directors will meet with the company's new president Sorajak Kasemsuwan next Friday to discuss how to maintain the national carrier as one of the world's leading airlines.
One of the first priorities will be its financial direction, after THAI suffered a Bt10.2-billion loss last year.
Board chairman Ampon Kittiampon said yesterday after a board meeting that the directors had agreed to hire Sorajak as the new president, replacing Piyasvasti Amranand, who was fired in June. Sorajak will be officially informed on Monday, when the agreement will be signed. He will start working the next day.
Ampon declined to disclose the new president’s salary, saying it was confidential. Piyasvasti’s last salary, before his employment contract was prematurely terminated, was Bt990,000 per month.
Ampon declined to disclose the new president’s salary, saying it was confidential. Next month, Sorajak will be informed about the company’s financial performance, especially in the first quarter, when its results were below projections. His performance will be judged over the next eight or nine months.
Ampon said he accepted that the aviation industry was having a rough time with fluctuating fuel prices and fiercer competition, but THAI has a new Airbus A380 superjumbo with 507 seats as a competitive advantage to lure passengers.
“The new president will have to manage risks and also maintain the service standard of THAI at the same time,’’ Ampon said.
He will have to follow the company’s strategy and also state-enterprise plans, especially concerning good governance.
He will be responsible for decentralising the company’s management. The board will not be involved in changes in employees’ positions, except for that of executive vice president.
The new president will also be responsible for promoting green innovation. Currently, THAI is internationally recognised as helping to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
