Garuda Indonesia Appoints Captain Wamildan Tsani Panjaitan as New CEO
Garuda Indonesia has officially announced the appointment of Captain Wamildan Tsani Panjaitan as its new CEO, replacing Irfan Setiaputra. The decision was confirmed after a shareholder meeting on November 15, 2024, with Setiaputra sharing the news with Reuters and Bloomberg News.
Panjaitan, who retired from the Indonesian Air Force in 2013, brings extensive experience to his new role. He previously worked as a pilot and held various supervisory roles at Lion Air and Batik Air, including Safety Manager, Safety Director, and ultimately interim CEO of Lion Air in 2022. Panjaitan, a former military pilot, expressed his commitment to improving Garuda’s financial performance and enhancing its service quality. He also emphasized his goal of strengthening Garuda’s reputation as Indonesia’s national flag carrier.
Under Panjaitan’s leadership, Garuda aims to become a globally recognized airline, with guidance from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. This marks the second leadership change at Garuda in the past four years. Panjaitan succeeds Setiaputra, who led the airline for over four years and was recently named “Best CEO” for his inspirational leadership during Garuda’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
During Setiaputra’s tenure, Garuda successfully reduced liabilities and restructured debts with creditors and lessors, navigating significant financial challenges. Setiaputra had taken over as CEO in 2020, following the dismissal of Ari Askhara, who was caught in a scandal involving the attempted smuggling of a vintage motorcycle on a Garuda flight.
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