AirAsia reshuffles leadership as it shows Dr M the future of air travel

KUALA LUMPUR: AIRASIA Group Bhd boss Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said he would lead airasia.com until a new CEO was hired, as he announced the reorganization of the group's leadership with a goal to turn the budget airline into a travel and financial platform company.

"We are taking the journey to another level by giving our guests a truly integrated and end-to-end experience," he said in a statement today.

"Right at the heart of this is airasia.com, which will be a lifestyle brand that offers a frictionless travel experience of discovery, booking, pricing, branding, deals for all our products and partnerships," he added.

Joining him on the board of the new venture are AirAsia Bhd chief commercial officer Karen Chan, who will drive all commercial functions as airasia.com.

She will be assisted by Spencer Lee, who will take on the role of airasia.com's chief operating officer managing an online business portfolio that includes OURSHOP, AirAsia WiFi (ROKKI), hotel partnerships and others.

The chief product officer for airasia.com will also be appointed to head up product teams, while AirAsia software engineering and technology (AASET) head Elias Vafiadis will continue to lead software engineering, all reporting to Fernandes in the interim.

Meanwhile, AirAsia Group deputy CEO (airlines) Bo Lingam has been named as AirAsia Group Bhd president (airlines). It will also head up AirAsia SEA (formerly known as AirAsia Global Shared Services), a shared services center that provides corporate and support services to AirAsia.

Lingam will continue to run the core airline business and drive customer service improvements and cost efficiencies through digitization and the One AirAsia initiative.

Aireen Omar has been appointed as AirAsia Group president (RedBeat Ventures) and will head up the corporate venture capital arm.

In this role, she will focus on seeking out new companies and technologies to power AirAsia's core business while still overseeing the company's digital businesses such as BigPay, Teleport and AirAsia's BIG Loyalty.

"To make this work, we have the right structure in place and with today's changes, I believe we have the right place in place of right foundations that will allow us to really drive our digital and ancillary business, which I see eventually contributing up to 70% to earnings, "Fernandes said.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, AirAsia said it welcomed Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad and Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook to its RedQ headquarters in Sepang.

The tour kicked off at the Innovation Lab with AirAsia presenting airasia.com, its all-in-one travel platform, followed by a demonstration of a seamless, fully digital airport experience powered by AirAsia's FACES (Fast Airport Clearance Experience System).

AirAsia also demonstrated digital engineering solutions such as blockchain technology and Skywise, as well as key components of its future travel blueprint, including the OURSHOP e-marketplace, cargo and logistics platform Teleport, BigPay fintech venture, and lifestyle and entertainment affiliates such as Santan and AirAsia Foundation.