AMCON restructures Aero, CEO resigns

The Managing Director, Aerocontractors Airlines, Captain Akin George, has resigned following a restructuring exercise initiated by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, a company statement has said.

For some months now, AMCON has been involved in Aero after taking over some of its debts running into billions of naira from the banks.

Aero, in the statement, said the Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Obaro Ibru, has been appointed Acting Managing Director.

The statement read, “Following the commencement of a restructuring exercise initiated by the AMCON with the support of the board of Aero, the Managing Director of Aero, Capt. Akin George, has resigned. This is the beginning of a restructuring exercise that will make the airline slimmer and stronger, with the aim of making it more competitive.George has served Aero for 24 years in various capacities.”

The statement quoted the Chairman of the board, Mr. Funsho Kupolokun, as saying, “The board accepts the resignation of Capt. George and appreciates the services he has rendered to this airline over the last two decades. We wish him the best in his future endeavour”.

The statement also commented on the new helmsman, Ibru, who until now was the Deputy Managing Director, has been appointed by the board as the Acting Managing Director. He comes with extensive experience in banking and aviation industry, ranging from Aviation Project Management, Consumer Banking, Product Development, Strategy, Internal Control and Compliance, and Business Process Engineering, among others.”

Speculations have been rife in the last one week over the purpoted resignation of the former CEO. The Managing Director of AMCON, Mr Mustapha Chike-Obi, had a few months ago said it was planning to restructure the company.

Chike-Obi told the National Assembly recently at a public hearing that airlines owed AMCON N135bn. It was learnt that the government agency might force some of the debtor airlines to partner with foreign airlines for better management.

Nigerian domestic airlines are generally facing financial distress.

However, the Federal Government is planning to float an airline leasing firm to assist domestic airlines to acquire aircraft.