Andre Compion to quit Air Namibia post

AIR Namibia’s General Manager for Operations and Technical Services, André Compion, has resigned, several well-placed sources indicated yesterday.

Approached for comment, Compion declined to say anything, referring The Namibian to the national carrier’s Chief Executive Officer, Kosmas Egumbo. Egumbo was unavailable for comment.The Namibian understands that Compion tendered three months’ notice but provided no reasons for the move.Compion was appointed in the post in a temporary capacity in 2002, as part of an interim management team to oversee the transition of the airline into a new company, which Government decided had to be separated from TransNamib.He served in the position in a temporary capacity for two years before being permanently appointed late last year.Along with Air Namibia’s advisor to the CEO, Gernot Riedel, Compion was to play a pivotal role in turning around the airline, which had raked up billions of dollars in debt since Independence.Last year, Compion was at the forefront of negotiations to sell the airline’s most costly liability – the Boeing 747-400 Combi.As part of its new operational plan, Compion was also charged with securing Airbus aircraft to lease to fly Air Namibia’s long-haul flights.Speculation is rife that Compion will return to the private aviation company, Comav, of which he was a director when first appointed to Air Namibia.Comav’s Managing Director, Danie van der Merwe, died in August when his helicopter crashed on his farm just outside Windhoek.According to an initial privatisation plan, Comav was expected to obtain a 15 per cent stake in Air Namibia.The envisaged private-public partnership of the airline eventually fell through, and Government remains the sole shareholder.Compion encountered resistance from Air Namibia staff soon after his temporary appointment, and a two-year legal battle ensued between them over his involvement with Comav.When first appointed, Comav flew aircraft for the national airline.Subsequently, their partnership only extended to leasing aircraft to Air Namibia, mostly for domestic routes.During his time at Air Namibia, Compion sold all his shares in Comav.Comav has also established itself as a provider of medical evacuation and air-ambulance services.Riedel’s contract expires at the end of the year.Egumbo was unavailable for comment.The Namibian understands that Compion tendered three months’ notice but provided no reasons for the move.Compion was appointed in the post in a temporary capacity in 2002, as part of an interim management team to oversee the transition of the airline into a new company, which Government decided had to be separated from TransNamib.He served in the position in a temporary capacity for two years before being permanently appointed late last year.Along with Air Namibia’s advisor to the CEO, Gernot Riedel, Compion was to play a pivotal role in turning around the airline, which had raked up billions of dollars in debt since Independence. Last year, Compion was at the forefront of negotiations to sell the airline’s most costly liability – the Boeing 747-400 Combi.As part of its new operational plan, Compion was also charged with securing Airbus aircraft to lease to fly Air Namibia’s long-haul flights.Speculation is rife that Compion will return to the private aviation company, Comav, of which he was a director when first appointed to Air Namibia.Comav’s Managing Director, Danie van der Merwe, died in August when his helicopter crashed on his farm just outside Windhoek.According to an initial privatisation plan, Comav was expected to obtain a 15 per cent stake in Air Namibia.The envisaged private-public partnership of the airline eventually fell through, and Government remains the sole shareholder.Compion encountered resistance from Air Namibia staff soon after his temporary appointment, and a two-year legal battle ensued between them over his involvement with Comav.When first appointed, Comav flew aircraft for the national airline.Subsequently, their partnership only extended to leasing aircraft to Air Namibia, mostly for domestic routes.During his time at Air Namibia, Compion sold all his shares in Comav.Comav has also established itself as a provider of medical evacuation and air-ambulance services.Riedel’s contract expires at the end of the year.