The long-held tradition of Thai Airways International (THAI) being managed entirely by Thai nationals is about to change.
The struggling flag carrier is about to appoint a foreign airline professional as a vice-president to address one of the weaknesses stalling its rehabilitation — sales.
The appointment of Australian Bryan Banston, originally from Melbourne and with more than 30 years' experience in the airline industry, is imminent pending the finalisation of his remuneration package, insiders said.
Appointing Mr Banston vice-president for sales at THAI is noteworthy primarily because he will break a taboo among Thai state enterprises, which do not normally have expats in executive positions.
Mr Banston, who previously served as vice-president for commercial operations for Australasia at Emirates, will be the first non-Thai to assume the executive post since the early 1980s, when a couple of Americans and Scandinavians held senior executive jobs at THAI.
The forthcoming appointment has fuelled criticism within airline circles, as the company's board quietly extended the employment of Wayne Pearce, a former chief executive of Oman Air, as international adviser to THAI president Charamporn Jotikasthira for another six months from the end of last year despite disagreement expressed by cabinet ministers when the appointment first took place.
Questions were raised about the generous employment package being extended to Mr Banston, regarded as exorbitant by Thai nationals.
According to guidelines recently approved by THAI's board, the Australian executive will receive a basic maximum salary of 650,000 baht a month.
That is three times the level paid to a Thai executive of ...
Bangkokpost.com