Within 65 days of landing,Ravi puts AI board on rejig mode

In his first address in Air India’s inflight magazine,Ravi said that while handing over civil aviation ministry charge,PM Manmohan Singh gave him a one-line brief — turn around Air India. The minister,said government sources in the know,is keen to reshuffle the two government nominees on the Board. Also,three of the total six functional directors are on exit mode,said official sources.

The government recently rejected the plea of Anup Srivastava,director (personnel) and Amod Sharma — former SBU-head,for a second extension on the airline’s Board. Their five-year term as functional director on the Board expired in October,2010,following which they were given a three-month extension,a decision backed by the then civil aviation secretary M Nambiar. Another functional director Anita Khurana (head – cargo) proceeded on a 113 day leave last week till her retirement on July 13. Executive director (Americas and customer service ),Chitra Sarkar,too has proceeded on a long leave. “These vacant slots are likely to be filled later,” said an airline executive.

Read along with the exit of independent director Mahindra & Mahindra’s vice chairman and MD Anand Mahindra from the Board — his resignation has received PMO’s assent,Ravi has thrown his weight behind airline’s CMD Arvind Jadhav.

At Express Group’s Idea Exchange programme recently,Ravi had categorically denied bringing a change in the top most job in the airline,and said Jadhav is “well-versed in the subject now.” In last few months,the airline has seen a drop in its domestic market share,losing the number three position to IndiGo. An Air India senior executive told The Indian Express that Srivastava is likely to serve another one year till his retirement on his previous position. Sharma has been served the marching orders from a retrospective date February 1,2011.“At the time of being appointed to the Board,Sharma didn’t exercise the option to revert to his previous position in the airline. Therefore,when his term as functional director ended,he ceased to be an employee of the company,” the spokesperson said.

However,some former airline executives expressed their disappointment at the way HR changes have been made in the recent past,calling them reckless.

“HR needs to be viewed in context of difficult situation that the airline faces today. What has happened so far is not desirable,” said former executive director Jitender Bhargav.

Shake-up on the cards

* In his address in Air India’s inflight magazine,aviation minister Vayalar Ravi said that while handing over charge,the Prime Minister gave him a one-line brief — turn around Air India

* Government recently rejected the plea of Anup Srivastava,director (personnel) and Amod Sharma — former SBU-head,for a second extension on the airline’s Board

* Another functional director Anita Khurana (head – cargo) proceeded on a 113 day leave last week till her retirement on July 13

* Executive director (Americas and customer service ),Chitra Sarkar,too has proceeded on a long leave