Chief Officers to Head PIA Departments in Place of Directors

[Abbas Ali]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) administration has issued a notification regarding the restructuring of the airline to make it a profitable institution. PIA’s board of directors has given the approval of making the national airline in accordance with the international models of airlines, the government stated in a press release on Thursday.

PIA has issued a notification according to which chief officers are to head different departments of PIA in place of directors who will directly report to the chief executive of PIA. According to the notification, these directives are to be implemented with immediate effect.

Following the models of successful airlines of all over the world, PIA Board of Directors has approved the notification of restructuring by agreeing that National Airlines must be streamlined on modern professional styles. It requires the appointment of PIA Chief Officer in place and the appointment of Directors as heads of different areas.

As per the notification, Chief operating Officer, Chief Technical Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Officer / General Manager Safety and Quality Assurance and General Manager Procurement & Logistics chief executive will be the heads of their respective sectors who will report to Chief Executive Officer.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Adviser for Aviation and PIA Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan addressed a dinner of Directors of all sectors, general managers, Chief engineers, officials of the PALPA and office bearers of all other Professional unions. He hailed the implementation of the Board’s decisions and appreciated the cooperation of workers and professional organisations of PIA in this regard.

Source: http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/03 ... ring-plan/

[Abbas Ali]

Major restructuring of PIA done on modern lines: Sardar Mehtab

Islamabad; March 31, 2017 Advisor to Prime Minister on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan has said that major restructuring of PIA has been done on modern lines and airline's management is being made lean and smart in order to improve its efficiency and to breathe a new life to the airline. PIA which remained a leader in the aviation industry must work as a commercial company with corporate structure and culture, he said.

He said this while talking to renowned businessman and former PIA Board member, Mr. Arif Habib, here today.

Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan said that PIA is being turned into a modern airline in order to catch pace with world's most successful airlines.

He said this is the first time such an initiative has been taken in the history of PIA which would yield immense benefits in the time to come. Efforts are being made to transform PIA into a profitable entity with investment into infrastructure, logistics and human resource, he added.

Mr. Arif Habib said that Sardar Mehtab has proved his mettle in taking tough decisions for the betterment of the national flag carrier.

Source: PIA Press Release (March 31, 2017)

[ammad]

It's just renaming of designations... Correct? I remember one time all of the directors were re- designated as vice presidents and no result out of it.

[Abbas Ali]

‘Restructured’ PIA starts functioning

By Sardar Sikander

Published: April 1, 2017

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has designated the newly set-up positions of departmental ‘chiefs’ to nine different departments while some key slots now perform duties independently of any administrative check, and report directly to the board of directors (BoD).

Documentary details available with The Express Tribune suggest that the Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) and company secretary are now discharging responsibilities outside any administrative regulations and report directly to the PIA’s BoD in an apparent bid to ensure transparency.

The position of chief executive officer (CEO) functions under the oversight of the BoD even though the CEO is empowered to make key administrative decisions concerning the airline.

The documents suggest that the positions of ‘legal adviser’ and ‘general manager public affairs’ report directly to the CEO and not to any department concerned.

The nine departments of the national airline are being headed by the chiefs, which were previously headed by directors. As per the new arrangement, the chief operating officer (COO) heads the departments of flight operations, crew training, scheduling, security and inventory, chief pilot, central control, medical services, health services, trainings, food services and flight services.

The chief commercial officer heads the departments of commercial, revenue management, network planning, market planning, sales, Pax sales, industry affairs, Cargo and Speedex, brand, customer service and customer related procurement.

The chief technical officer heads planning, base maintenance, line maintenance, quality assurance, MRO and airworthiness. The chief financial officer heads revenue accounting, budget, funds management and general accounting.

The chief human resource officer heads HR management, works, coordination and related departments.

The chief corps development heads fleet planning, corps planning, research and development. chief/senior general manager supply chain management heads procurement, logistics and inventory.

The chief information officer (CIO)/senior general manager heads database, network administration, IT applications and cyber security whereas chief/general manager Safety and Quality Assurance (S&QA) is yet to be assigned the related departments.

According to personnel order number 025/2017 issued by Acting CEO Bernd Hildenbrand, in line with the restructuring process, PIA has made adjustments on important positions.

Captain Uzair Khan has been appointed as PIA’s chief flight operations; Raheel Ahmad, executive director (HR) is re-titled as chief human resource officer following the new arrangement put in place after restructuring.

Nayyar Hayat will continue as chief financial officer. Director Safety Management Captain Naveed Aziz is re-titled as Chief Safety and Quality Assurance.

Director MRO Amir Ali has been posted as chief technical officer. GM Fleet Planning Zulfiqar Ahmed Sheikh is appointed as chief corporate development.

The functions of the chief commercial officer would be looked after by the acting CEO “till the appointment of a full time CCO”, the notification says.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, GM Public Affairs, PIA, Danyal Gilani said the restructured arrangement has been put in place with immediate effect and the personnel assigned the new portfolios have started working.

“The related posts are already there which have been restructured and related postings have been made. The postings on other positions would follow, accordingly,” he said.

According to a statement issued by the PIA, Prime Minister’s Aviation Adviser Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan said that “major restructuring of PIA has been done on modern lines and airline’s management is being made lean and smart in order to improve its efficiency and to breathe a new life to the airline. The PIA, which remained a leader in the aviation industry, must work as a commercial company with corporate structure and culture.”

Mehtab shared these views during a meeting with renowned businessman and former PIA BoD member Arif Habib.

A source close to Habib told The Express Tribune that the aviation adviser wanted Habib to re-join the PIA BoD and he repeated this offer to the business tycoon during the meeting.

However, Habib has yet to make a final decision but assured the adviser that he would assist him “as much as possible” to address the worst financial condition PIA faces today.

The federal government has been mulling over several options in a bid to improve the deteriorated standards of PIA. These include rightsizing, privatisation and other cost-cutting measures.

Source: https://tribune.com.pk/story/1371147/re ... nctioning/

Abbas