The first-ever foreign managing director (MD) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines - Kevin Steele - has submitted his resignation letter, showing medical ground just a year after resuming the office.
Mr Steele submitted his resignation letter to Biman board of directors earlier this month. The board, however, did not accept his resignation yet.
The Biman MD admitted submitting his resignation Sunday, and said it is very tough for him to fulfill the requirements of Biman board.
"Yes, I regret to admit that I have resigned from Biman on medical ground, and could not manage the board's requirements," he told the FE.
Mr Steele was suffering from tuberculosis, and some other illness.
"I had to resign for tuberculosis. I have been suffering from the disease for a long time. I also had stroke," he added.
On March 18, 2013, Kevin Steele joined as Biman MD and chief executive officer (CEO).
Mr Steele, a former general manager (sales and revenue development) of British Airways, was working as senior vice-president (commercial) of the UK-based Arik Air Ltd after he 'lost' his job from British Airways, sources said.
The decision to hire a foreign national to helm Biman came at a time when the carrier racked up a record loss of around Tk 6.0 billion in 2012 financial year due to axing routes, recruiting excess manpower, high interest payments, and endemic corruption.
After joining in the office, Mr Steele declared to salvage Biman from the chasm of continuous loss. He also declared a timeline to achieve the goal.
"A lot of work has to be done, and it will take several months to see a significant change. I am confident that we can return Biman to profitability as soon as possible," he said in his first press conference.
On May 24, 2012, the authorities concerned issued an advertisement for the top job at Biman, seeking applications from suitable candidates. A total of 42 aviation experts from home and abroad submitted applications to vie for the post.
Mr Steele was selected from among the nine foreign nationals who met the selection panel, headed by Khorshed Alam, civil aviation secretary and a board member of the national flag carrier.
The panel finally picked Kevin Steel out of three short-listed candidates on February 14, 2013.
