Former Bmi boss Wolfgang Prock-Schauer has been appointed as the new CEO of German carrier Air Berlin.
Prock-Schauer, who was CEO of Bmi from 2009 to 2012 before its sale to British Airways’ owner IAG last year, takes over from Hartmut Mehdorn who had been Air Berlin’s interim CEO since September 2011.
Air Berlin’s chairman Hans-Joachim Körber said that Prock-Schauer would take responsibility for the airline’s new two-year “turnaround” programme which will include “decisive reorganisation of the company”.
Prock-Schauer said: “Air Berlin is facing huge challenges. We must continue to push our process of change forward rapidly to become lean and smart, so that we can be successful in the global competitive environment.
“Together with my colleagues on the board of directors, the management board and the employees of Air Berlin we will put all our effort into this task.”
Prock-Schauer initially joined Air Berlin as chief strategy and network planning officer in October and he will also continue with this role “until further notice”.
Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad has a 29 per cent stake in Air Berlin and last year moved to counter speculation that it wanted to remove Mehdorn from his position as CEO.
airberlin.com