Biman Bangladesh Airlines has begun searching for a new managing director and chief executive officer, as the incumbent MD and CEO, Kevin Steele, is set to leave his office on April 19.
An invitation of applications for the Biman leadership position has already been published on the national flag carrier’s website, while advertisements in this regard will also be published in newspapers within a couple of days, said Biman’s general manager (public relations) Mosharaf Hosen Khan.
Interested candidates have been requested to send their applications along with other required documents to the authorities concerned by May 16.
In its online advertisement, Biman sought applications from both Bangladeshi and foreign nationals for the positions of MD and CEO.
The advertisement also said the salary for the position is negotiable. Earlier, there was much controversy surrounding Steel’s remuneration, which included Tk18.3 lakh as a monthly salary, along with a flat in an expensive neighbourhood in Dhaka, transport facilities and 12 business class air tickets annually. However, no previous MD of the organisation had ever received more than Tk3 lakh for their services.
Steele joined Biman in March 2013 on a two-year contract as the airline’s first foreign MD and CEO; but just 13 months in, he is set to leave, citing health reasons.
“I am leaving on the 19th of this month, and everything has been decided and made final. If Biman wants, we can maintain a very close contact after my departure,” Steele, who submitted his resignation in December last year, told the Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday.
Biman’s board of directors was free to accept or reject his suggestions as they saw fit, Steel said, adding that he was willing to help Biman until a successor was found. The outgoing CEO also denied claims that he had any dispute with the airlines’ board members.
Earlier, Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon formed a four-member sub-committee, headed by Civil Aviation Secretary Khurshed Alam Chowdhury, to find a new MD.
This sub-committee requested Steele to stay with the flag carrier until Biman found his successor.
