JAKARTA - PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (GIAA) Finance and Risk Management Director Fuad Rizal has been appointed as the flag carrier’s acting CEO following the sacking of Ari Askhara.
“We have confirmed that the acting CEO is the Finance Director,” said Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi as quoted by Kompas.com, Friday (6/12).
Regarding the appointment, Mr Sumadi has affirmed that he will continue to coordinate with SOE Minister Erick Thohir.
“Mr Erick will invite us to discuss the matter further,” said Mr Sumadi.
Mr Rizal first joined Garuda in 2015. An Industrial Engineering graduate from the Bandung Institute of Technology, he previously served as the airline's VP of Treasury and Associate Director until September 2018.
Garuda CEO Ari Askhara was sacked by Mr Thohir on Thursday (5/12) for his involvement in the smuggling of luxurious goods on board a new Airbus A330-900 flown in by the airline from Toulouse, France on November 17, 2019. Upon inspecting the aircraft, Indonesian Customs found 18 boxes containing a disassembled Harley-Davidson motorcycle and two disassembled Brompton folding bicycles. (MS)