Thursday, May 23rd

Last update:11:39:54 AM GMT

You are here: News Business Sumsum reappointed

Sumsum reappointed

E-mail Print
Ron Sumsum has been reappointed as the CEO of Solomon Airlines.
The controversial pilot and former chief executive officer (CEO) of Solomon Airlines Ron Sumsum has been reappointed to head the national flag carrier.

The formal announcement was made by the chairman of the airlines board Bill Tyson in a statement yesterday. 

The appointment came after more than two months of screening and processing of the applicants by the airlines board.

In announcing the reappointment Mr Tyson said the board had pursued an exhaustive selection process to ensure the best candidates was selected.

"An experienced human resource consultant with significant experience in the aviation industry in Australia was engaged to assist the selection panel and advice in the recruitment process," the chairman said.

He added with the critical stage in the airline was entering into seeking IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) accredit ion and IATA (International Air Transport Association) membership, Mr Sumsum was the best person to lead the company in the coming months.

"The airlines goals are not only to secure the significant developments made in the past years but to continue with the strategic direction in place and continue to provide a safe, reliable and innovative airline service for the country," Mr Tyson said.

The Ni-Vanuatu man took up the CEO post just around 2007 when the last local CEO Joseph Anea was fired from the top post.

Since then Mr Sumsum had been in the position which saw some changes to the airlines industry in the country.

This includes the lease of the Embraer from SkyAirWorld which was later not viable.

Solomon Airlines went to lease a number of aircrafts to operate the lucrative Brisbane-Honiara-Brisbane route until it successful negotiated for a wet lease which saw the arrival of the Airbus A320 which is currently service the international routes.

On the domestic front, the airlines was able to lease Dash 8 aircraft from New Zealand and later from Airlines PNG until today.

Mr Sumsum was also in the media spotlight for continuing flying the airbus while being the CEO.

Advisor to Civil Aviation, Bill Macgregor early this year said under the civil aviation rule he’s (Sumsum) quite entitle to do that.

Mr Sumsum who is a pilot by profession was also accused of being a highly paid CEO in the region.

Even the former Finance Minister now the Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo last year accused Sumsum claiming he (Sumsum) got a huge pay package than any other locals in the country.

But the chairman, Mr Tyson said this was not true.

He said Sumsum’s remuneration was nowhere near to other CEOs in the South Pacific.

Mr Sumsum ended his contract as the CEO in April this year and was one of the applicants.

The post attracted a large number of applications which finally went to Mr Sumsum as the best choice agreed by the airlines board.

Mr Sumsum's reappointment came as the Airlines prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.

Reports said Solomon Airlines will play a part in developing health facilities in Honiara as part of its community focus for its 50th anniversary.

The Islands Business International reported that passengers on their Airbus A320 have already started donating coins on their international flights towards this noble cause.

Airline officials confirm they will donate equipment to the National Referral Hospital’s infant ward and will be looking at assisting any other wards in Honiara’s main hospital.

However, the airline has been meeting to finalise details of the celebration activities.

The airline was set up in 1962 by Papua New Guinea based aviator Laurie Crowley. He started the service with chartered flights on an Aztec Piper aircraft (five seater) under the banner Megapode Airlines.

Today, the airline has:

1 Airbus A320;

1 Dash 8-102;

2 Twin Otters; and

1 Britten-Norman Islander.

Association of South Pacific Airlines secretary-general George Faktaufon said Solomon Airlines has come a long way and like many other regional airlines went through some rough times.