Bitter dose for Gulf Air as hunt is on for new chief

Gulf Air president and chief executive Andre Dose resigned earlier this week, plunging the airline into crisis.

Chairman Mahmood Al Kooheji, Mr Dose, board members and management officials held emergency talks on Monday and Mr Dose’s resignation was confirmed.
Sources said the resignation followed allegations made against the management team, but would not elaborate.
“The management had no choice but to resign, because they don’t think it is a healthy situation to go forward with such allegations being made against them,” they said.
On Monday the Mr Al Kooheji announced that it has been “mutually decided” that Mr Dose will leave the company in accordance with the terms of his employment contract.
The board thanked him for his assistance to the company during his employment period and wished him every success in his future plans.
The board also discussed the latest developments with regard to the implementation of the company’s restructuring plan and expressed its satisfaction with the positive results achieved so far. 
The board also expressed gratitude and appreciation to all company employees for their positive contributions. In addition it thanked all those involved within Bahrain International Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority and Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) Company for their co-operation in supporting the national carrier.
The board is “highly optimistic” and trusts that the company will have a promising future especially after the implementation of the company’s overall restructuring plan, thereby continuing its 57-year history.
Founded in 1950, Gulf Air, owned by Bahrain, is the only truly Pan Gulf carrier in the Middle East region.
Today the airline’s network stretches from Europe to Asia and covers 40 cities in 26 countries. The fleet comprises 28 aircraft and has the distinct advantage of possessing the strongest network across the Middle East.
A new strategy to create a platform for sustained commercial operation has been put in place as part of a two-phased turnaround programme announced in April 2007 by the airline’s former president and chief executive Mr Dosé.
Gulf Air’s onboard service caters includes the unique and award-winning Sky Chefs and Sky Nannies.
The crisis comes days after Gulf Air confirmed that it was helping police with inquiries into a criminal investigation into suspected financial irregularities, spanning several years.
UK-based forensic auditors Kroll are also understood to be going through the airline's books with a fine toothcomb. It is understood that Mr Dose had clashed with the board over his authority to run the airline.
  The board has also announced that a search for a new president and chief executive is ongoing.