AirAsia X Appoints Nadda Buranasiri as Group CEO

AirAsia X has announced the re-designations of Co-Group CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun and Co-Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes as Non-Executive Directors.

Mr. Nadda Buranasiri, CEO of AirAsia X Thailand, has been appointed as AirAsia X Group CEO, effective immediately.

Datuk Kamarudin and Tan Sri Fernandes will both continue to oversee the strategic direction of the business and its operations as directors of AirAsia X Berhad.

Commenting on the appointment, Fernandes said, "AirAsia X pioneered long-haul, low-cost air travel 11 years ago on 2 November 2007 and continues to grow in line with consumer demand, which is gaining momentum the world over. Nadda has had an exceptional career and brings a wealth of experience in a broad range of industries, including senior roles in sales, advertising, banking and the music industry, where I worked with him in 1996 in his role as Managing Director of record label MCA, which later became Universal Music Thailand. He joined the aviation industry in January 2014 as CEO of AirAsia X Thailand and has been instrumental in not only setting up our Bangkok-based long haul operations, but also making it one of the most successful and popular long-haul airlines in Asia. This is a great example of our internal talent development and succession planning for our key leadership roles."

Nadda Buranasiri

Nadda Buranasiri joined AirAsia X Thailand as the Chief Executive Officer in January 2014 and was appointed as the Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia X on 1 November 2018. Under his leadership, AirAsia X Thailand grew to profitability within three years of operations.

Buranasiri has a wealth of experience in various industries, starting as a Sales Executive for Siam Cement before progressing to the role of Product Manager at Asia Porcelain Industry and eventually, Market Executive for American Express until 1991.

Buranasiri then entered the advertising industry as the Account Group Director of J Walter Thomson (JWT), where he continued until 1996, when he moved to the music industry to be Managing Director of newly formed record label MCA. When MCA became Universal Music (Thailand) Co Ltd in 2007, Buranasiri remained Managing Director and directed business strategy, explored new business opportunities and partnerships until 2013.

Buranasiri graduated from Assumption College Sriracha in 1982 and went on to study at John Glenn High School in Ohio, US under the American Field Service Scholarship (AFS) programme, before returning to Bangkok to complete a Bachelor of Business Management in Marketing at Assumption University of Thailand in 1987.

Datuk Kamarudin said, "I would like to congratulate Nadda on his new appointment, and I look forward to working with him and the whole team at AirAsia X as we continue to grow and work towards creating a sustainable, viable long-haul business for the future in existing and new global markets."

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