Business Desk :Kyle Haywood, a British national and an accomplished commercial aviation professional takes over as the Managing Director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines effective from Monday. The Board of Directors of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, in its 136thh meeting held on 11 September 2014, appointed the experienced professional, Kyle as the Managing Director and CEO of Biman. Prior to his joining Biman, Kyle held senior executive aviation posts in Africa, Europe and the Americas. Kyle has 28 years proven track record in the field of aviation. Beginning his career with over 19 years at British Airways, Kyle also worked for air giants like Etihad, Gulf Air and two low cost carriers of Air Arabia, Nasair and held the post of CEO of Air Uganda in Africa.’Kyle comes with an amazing background in the commercial aviation arena and I am hopeful that he would, like a charismatic leader, instill in his followers a passionate commitment to the cause that we all have been working for the last six years’, said Air Marshal Jamal Uddin Ahmed (rtd.) on Kyle’s assuming the office of MD and CEO.Known as a ‘fixer’, Kyle has valuable experience in creating organization change environments and driving change concepts through the business. A forward thinker with a strong ability for consensus building and effective team-working combined with an inspirational and optimistic outlook on life, Kyle Haywood is optimistic about delivering further extensive change in the ongoing growth of the national carrier of Biman. Kyle has varied crisis management experience with the ability to react, adapt and steer the business through volatile commercial environments. Examples of this are managing British Airways’ Saudi operation during Gulf hostilities, managing its business on the ground in Argentina during the Argentine economic recession and more recently driving Gulf Air’s strategic commercial turn-around business changes up to the recent unrest in Bahrain.The newly appointed Managing Director & CEO, Kyle said, `I am delighted to be taking up this challenging role; particularly at a time when the airline pushes forward with its modernization programme. Biman is well placed to evolve in to a stronger aviation player. The ongoing fleet renewal allows us to build and improve a strong network whilst providing better punctuality and overall customer experience. The airline has made great progress in recent years and must continue to accelerate this positive rate of relevant change to ensure it secures and maintains its rightful place as a strong regional aviation company. With the ongoing focus and commitment of all the people at Biman along with continued support and confidence of the business’s key stakeholders, we can, together, deliver on our goals’. With the acquisition of a modern fleet, Biman is poised to fly into a new era of success and prosperity. The age-old DC-10s of the carrier had a crippling effect on Biman and the image of the national carrier suffered immensely before the advent of new Boeing aircraft. Presently Biman has four new- generation Boeing 777 300 ER in its fleet and another two Boeing 737-800s are on course to join the airline this year. With a bigger and younger fleet, the airline aims to increase its global network, building more efficient and effective connectivity as well as enhancing significantly the overall customer service on- board experience.Earlier, Kyle was welcomed and received by a host of Biman officials at HSIA who had arrived Sunday on a BG flight from London. He was received Monday at Biman headquarters by his predecessor A M Mosaddique Ahmed.The newly appointed Managing Director and CEO, Kyle Haywood is married and blessed with one daughter. Kyle Haywood is 48.
