Jambojet boss Allan Kilavuka named new Kenya Airways CEO

Jambojet boss Allan Kilavuka named new Kenya Airways CEO

The Board of Kenya Airways (KQ) has confirmed Allan Kilavuka as its new Chief Executive Officer effective April 1, 2020.

Until his confirmation, Kilavuka had overseen the management of the carrier in acting capacity since December 16, following the departure of Sebastian Mikosz, while still holding his initial role as Jambojet CEO.

“It is particularly gratifying to me that the Board agreed to support the appointment of Allan to the full role of substantive CEO. During his short-time as acting CEO of KQ, Allan has thrown all his energy into this role, whilst maintaining his position as CEO of Jambojet,” KQ Chairman Michael Joseph said in a statement released on Thursday.

Kilavuka takes over ranks from Mikosz who chose not to go through with his original three-year term to June 2020 to instead leave the hot seat earlier in December last year.

This after his attempt to turn around the loss-making airline through a proposal to co-run operations at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) alongside the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) were turned down by Parliament in mid-2019.

As such, Kilavuka will hold the unenviable task of pulling the airline from the rubble of persistent losses by taking on the Cabinet-approved nationalization plan.

Already, Kenya Airways is expected to announce an extended loss estimated at a minimum of Ksh.9.5 billion as the carrier fails to find efficiencies in its operations.

In August, the airline booked a more than double increase in its half year loss to Ksh.8.6 billion as operation costs continued to grow ahead of revenues as KQ struggled to break even on the majority of its routes.

Kilavuka has over 23 years’ experience in leadership having worked across various organization setups including strategy and financial planning.

He is expected to remain on the Board of Jambojet, initially as CEO until March 31.

Kilavuka holds a bachelor’s of commerce degree from the University of Nairobi and has previously worked for Deloitte & Touche and General Electric (GE)

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Kenya Airways (KQ) Allan Kilavuka Sebastian Mikosz

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