Mr Kanok Abhiradee, President of Thai Airways International, named winner of the 2005
"World Airline Leadership Award"
Mr Kanok Abhiradee, President of Thai Airways International, has been named
as winner of the 2005 Skytrax World Airline Leadership Award.
Appointed to his post as President of THAI in 2002 when the world airline industry
was recovering from the impact of 9/11, Mr Kanok cannot have imagined that SARS and more recently
the Asian Tsunami would create further challenges at his own back-door in Thailand.
Factor into the equation a near doubling in fuel costs over the past 3 years
(Crude oil $26 a barrel in 2002 to over $50 in 2005), and one appreciates the pressures
that Mr Kanok and other airline bosses have been facing to maintain business stability - let
alone profitability during this period.
Of course, few airlines can boast of a record that Thai Airways International has achieved over the years -
having reported profits for 38 years in succession. The airline has ordered 6 Airbus A380 aircraft, and
is adding more A340-500 and A340-600 to the THAI fleet during 2005/6.
Commenting on reasons behind Mr Kanok's nomination to receive the World Airline Leadership Award for 2005,
Skytrax said ... "we examine many different factors within the selection process, and are looking for
the airline President or CEO who has achieved change and improvement through true hands-on
leadership. THAI is undergoing a real metarmorphis in terms of quality change, and this is much more
than just cosmetic improvement."
"Whilst THAI is completing a corporate makeover and introducing new products across all cabins, this
has to be allied to a new attitude amongst the whole THAI workforce - a fresh, invigorated and
customer orientated style that THAI is famous for. It is quite clear that Mr Kanok is leading and
encouraging these changes by personal example, and we are delighted to honour him with the 2005
World Airline Leadership Award" added Skytrax.
Appointed as President of THAI in May 2002, Mr Abhiradee joined the
airline from Thailand's Small Industry Finance Corporation, where he
served as President.
Kanok Abhiradee holds a BSc degree in Marketing from the University of
Louisville, Kentucky. He attended executive courses at several
educational institutions in England and the US. In 1972 he started his
professional career at General Motors (Thailand).
Over the years he has held executive positions at a number of companies
in Thailand, including the Karnasuta Group of Companies and Osothsapha
(Teck Heng Yoo) Co, where he also spent several years as its President.
Mr Abhiradee has been President and Chairman of the Executive Board of
International Engineering Public Co, and CEO of ThaiTradeX Co Ltd.
4th August 2005
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