Malaysia Airlines chief executive Peter Bellew has rejected suggestions government interference prompted his departure and says he leaving as a form of national service to his native Ireland.
The former Ryanair executive caught the Malaysia Airlines board off guard this week with a sudden and unexpected announcement he was returning to the Irish budget carrier as chief operating officer from December.
His sudden departure prompted media speculation it was prompted by interference by the Malaysian government or government-linked investment company Khazanah.
But Bellew said in a personal statement that Kazanah had been “incredibly supportive to me personally and corporately’’.
“There has been no interference,’’ he said “Although possibly I drove Khazanah mad with my constant questions and wish for consensus. I cannot thank them enough for accelerating our transformation.”
The same was true of Malaysian government interference, according to Bellew.
“People always ask me how do I cope with government interference,’’ he said.
“There has been none for me. Zero interference.”
Instead, The Irishman said it was “love of country” that was pulling him back to Ireland.
“I got a call from Ryanair late evening two weeks ago to be COO,’’ he said. “It is Ireland’s greatest company. They need my help and there is a big challenge.
“It is a form of national service.”
Bellew acknowledged he told a September 27 press conference that he would not return to Ryanair.
“But a week later the call came and in life we can really never say never,’’ he said.
Bellew is the second chief executive to leave Malaysia Airlines in less than two years.
However, he argued success in turning around the carrier, devastated by the loss of two aircraft in 2014 after an extended period of poor management, was within its grasp.
He said another 4-5 per cent increase in monthly revenue should see it move to profit.
“Not always easy to gain but in the second quarter revenue increased 7 per cent,’’ he said, adding that the airline's product was improving visibly but there was more to do.
There was also a plea not to change the brand.
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“Much work has been done globally through the media and travel agents to rebuild our heritage,’’ he said “People love what Malaysia Airlines stands for.
“The brand is now revived from China to the UK and down to Australia. That work must continue and will yield the 5 per cent plus revenue growth.”
Bellew was well respected during his time at Ryanair but has his work cut out for him managing the impact of pilot rostering debacle that has seen thousands of flights cancelled and hundreds of thousands of passengers inconvenienced.
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