African commercial airline on the hunt for new COO

At a time when unprecedented changes are taking place for a national African airline, the financial and HR consultancy firm of PriceWaterHouseCoopers has been tasked to find a new Chief Operating Officer (COO) who will be ready to hit the ground running and tackle many challenges.

Kenya’s national airline, Kenya Airways, selected Mr. Mbuvi Ngunze to step up as incoming CEO when the current CEO, Dr. Titus Naikuni, retires from the airline at the end of November this year after 13 ½ years at the helm. Mr. Ngunze is presently the COO.

The national airline has been in the red for some years, more recently being hammered by 14+ billion Kenya shillings tax bills for new aircraft and spare parts by ill-considered finance legislation and having to suspend flights to some destinations in West Africa affected by a raging Ebola outbreak, after public pressure prevailed.

The airline also faces increased competitive pressures from in particular Gulf carriers which have gained access to the Kenyan and regional markets in past years and is also competing with them from African destinations which feed transit traffic via Nairobi.

The new team, when in place, will have to concentrate on turning the financial fortunes of the airline around and continuing with the rollout of new destinations and increasing the fleet as foreseen under “Plan Mawingo,” Kenya Airways’ 10-year strategic plan.