Tokyo, 17 Dec 2012 - AirAsia Japan Co., Ltd. announced that Yoshinori Odagiri, 50, Board member and Head of Operations is the new Chief Executive Officer and Representative Director at the board meeting held today. Kazuyuki Iwakata, 55, who was Representative Director and CEO, now assumes the role of Chairman.
Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Group commented "This announcement is in line with the overall AirAsia Group's strategy to strengthen key management within all its organizations with an experienced, focused and passionate tune in its ranks. Yoshinori Odagiri has been elevated internally to CEO position and he brings in operational experience who understands the low cost model very well, which is vital in growing AirAsia Japan to new heights. He would ensure that AirAsia Japan would be focused on being part of the AirAsia Group's global brand, driving low cost leadership, achieving local & international market dominance and optimise profitability. In time, there will be a further strengthening of the management by bringing in management from outside the airline industry."
In another appointment, James Rhee is joining AirAsia as of December 2012 to become the Chief Executive Officer of the newly created region of North Asia. This covers Japan, where we already have an airline, as well as Korea and China which are all potential new business opportunities for us. The North Asia region also includes the Philippines.
Tony Fernandes added "Because of the proximity of the Philippines to China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, we expect the business success of Philippines' AirAsia will be very closely tied to these countries; more so than her ASEAN neighbors. So, it makes great sense for the Philippines to be part of the North Asia region. James reports to me directly whilst the CEOs of the various countries within the North Asia Region report to James".
James joins AirAsia from his last position as Managing Director of an investment company in Taiwan. Before that, he had 7 years of experience with Dell's business in North Asia, managing marketing and sales roles and was based in Japan and China, with extensive working exposures to other countries in the region. He also had 3 years of experience as a consultant with McKinsey, and 9 years of working experience earlier with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with lots of international exposures in many parts of the world.
--Courtesy of Brudirect.com