I have read the editorial written by Raj Meetarbhan about MK in today’s edition. Very pertinent indeed. For having discussed with Andre Viljoen on several occasions about the lingering internal problems the national airline faces, I have no doubt that he displays firsthand knowledge of the aviation world. However, when it comes to MK, I feel more and more that his good intentions will end up being mere slogans, like those tiring soundbites coming from our politicians. There seems to be no determination from the Top Management and Board to resist or arrest the destructive influences of external interference in the internal running of MK. If it cannot be done now in this state of emergency, mark my words, once the sight of mere recovery or minimal profit resurfaces, the specter of arrogance and complacency will again be in full sway.

MK has immense challenges to wrestle with on the external front, but unless and until the new CEO (or would be new CEO!) succeeds in restoring Discipline, Trust and Credibility from within, all efforts on the external front or through press PR exercises will prove futile. By merely summoning the approval of the Board and the government every time to convince that there is consensus and decisiveness to change the fortunes of the company is misleading and an insult to our intelligence, however minimal our knowledge about MK or the aviation world may be.

Manoj Ujoodha was harping and hiding behind Mc Kinsey 2 and fl ashy powerpoint presentations throughout his tenure. The destitute HR department has had loads of expensive HR Consultants, advisers/ Mentors (Hewitt, Khemil Gobin, Dan Bundhoo, Mike Seetaramadoo, etc.) and yet today, after lengthy selection exercises through the renowned global executive search firm, no one was found suitable.

The final choice through a mysterious ‘headhunting’ fell on Sashi Puddoo, who had never applied for the EVPHR post when it was advertised. Can you imagine a company with 2,700 employees without a head of HR for almost three years? Why has it been so difficult to fill that post in particular (from within or externally) while nominations and promotions have been raining abundantly in other less critical departments at MK? What is so special or sensitive about this post in particular? I leave you to guess!

In the days of Nash Mallam Hasham, there was Mc Kinsey 1, which at least proved relevant in application. Now we have a new set of consultants: Lufthansa Techniks and Seabury. Without knowing what have been their findings on the internal management weaknesses at MK, we have jumped on to the phase of implementation with basically almost the same people in the driving seats. Worse still, as Seabury is yet to start putting into practice its recommendations and to carry its Manpower Audit, they have already promoted additional people in the Top Management structure (without going through any vacancy notice and proper evaluation of requirements): Messrs Jalloud Fakeermamode, Fooad Noorally, Sudh Ramjuttun and Sashi Puddoo… and, may be, others not yet announced publicly.

Is this serious management ? The only legitimacy they would always claim is
that the Board has given its approval! That same Board that was caught napping by the trail of scandals that MK has known: “Caisse noire”, Hedging... just to name a few.

This approval alibi seems to have become a license to kill at MK, instead of acting rigorously as checks and balances to uphold the company’s interests! Compare this with the Prime Minister’s statement during his “Face à la Presse”, when he affirmed that no new management appointments have been effected at MK. Which is which? Internal serenity at Air
Mauritius will come only if there is a genuine commitment to address the issues of Good Governance and Accountability. For the internal stakeholders (employees), this becomes only visible by the way people are hired, nominated, promoted, disciplined and rewarded. Can the CEO and the Board explain on what rationale the above named (and many others) have been nominated in such a haste, amidst an unprecedented financial turmoil? Who is caring about the values of Trust, Credibility and Integrity so much needed among the top management people at MK?

André Viljoen will not be able to do it all alone. Even less so through mere talking and reassurances. The Audit Committee of the Board (headed by Raj Ringadoo) is supposed to ensure we are living to the commitments of Good Governance and Accountability. I wonder what has been the relevance of the Audit Committee the past years.

Now that the topmost priority should be to confront one’s own weaknesses and build up the values and team that would put MK back on track, it is shocking to note that the focus is on “Forensic Experts internationaux have been recruted to track down all cases of theft of our company information”. What will be the meaningful cost/ benefit of this exercise to the company?

Upon reading this, we have the impression that MK’s demise is due mainly to ‘theft of company…..information’. Is that so? I just wish that the Forensic exercise could be expanded and extended to track cases of financial thefts, irregularities, frauds, nepotism and wastages as well. Such an initiative would certainly add to the elements of Trust and Credibility in the whole of management and the Board.