Jet Airways appoints former SriLankan Airlines' CEO as Chief Financial Officer
NEW DELHI: Jalan Kalrock consortium, the new promoters of jet Airways, has appointed Vipula Gunatilleka as the chief financial officer (CFO). Gunatilleka was the CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines until Jan 2022 and was leading the island nation’s national carrier during the pandemic.
The appointment comes a month after Jet Airways’ Accountable Manager Captain Sudhir Gaur had quietly left the airline. Since the consortium’s plan to revive Jet was approved by the NCLT in June 2021, it has faced multiple setbacks to resume operations.
Last year in December, the consortium had said that Jet Airways will re-commence its operations “at the earliest” in 2022 with six narrow-body aircraft. However, so far, they have not announced a timeline as to when Jet 2.0 would make its maiden flight.
Ankit Jalan, member of the monitoring committee of Jet Airways and part of the Jalan-Kalrock consortium, said, “Gunatilleka has been shortlisted after a rigorous process run by our executive team over the last several months…”
Gunatilleka said, “Having spent sufficient time in leadership roles in the aviation industry including as CEO of SriLankan Airlines until Jan 2022, I am aware of the responsibility that lingers on the shoulders of the leadership team, especially the CFO, and I am confident Jet Airways will soon regain its lost glory.”