AirAsia Appoints New CEO for Japan and North Asia

[HD video below] AirAsia Japan has appointed Yoshinori Odagiri, 50, Board member and Head of Operations, as the new Chief Executive Officer and Representative Director.

Kazuyuki Iwakata, 55, who was Representative Director and CEO, now assumes the role of Chairman.

Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Group, said, “This announcement is in line with the overall AirAsia Group’s strategy to strengthen key management within all its organizations with an experienced, focused and passionate tune in its ranks. Yoshinori Odagiri has been elevated internally to CEO position and he brings in operational experience who understands the low cost model very well, which is vital in growing AirAsia Japan to new heights. He would ensure that AirAsia Japan would be focused on being part of the AirAsia Group’s global brand, driving low cost leadership, achieving local & international market dominance and optimise profitability. In time, there will be a further strengthening of the management by bringing in management from outside the airline industry.”

In another appointment, James Rhee has joined AirAsia as Chief Executive Officer of the newly created region of North Asia. This covers Japan as well as Korea, China and the Philippines.

Tony Fernandes said, “Because of the proximity of the Philippines to China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, we expect the business success of Philippines’ AirAsia will be very closely tied to these countries; more so than her ASEAN neighbors. So, it makes great sense for the Philippines to be part of the North Asia region. James reports to me directly whilst the CEOs of the various countries within the North Asia Region report to James.”

James joins AirAsia from his last position as Managing Director of an investment company in Taiwan. Before that, he had 7 years of experience with Dell’s business in North Asia, managing marketing and sales roles and was based in Japan and China, with extensive working exposures to other countries in the region. He also had 3 years of experience as a consultant with McKinsey, and 9 years of working experience earlier with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

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