Search on for new PAL president, COO

MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines will be on the lookout for a new president and chief operating officer while its newly appointed officer in charge Vivienne Tan is at the helm.

PAL senior vice president and general counsel Siegfred Mison told The STAR that the plan is for the company to have a new president and COO following the retirement of Jaime Bautista.

“The plan is she (Tan) is just here for the interim,” Mison said.

Mison, however, said no schedule has been determined yet as to when a new president and COO will be named and appointed.

PAL’s board of directors last Monday approved the request for retirement of Bautista as PAL president and COO which will be effective June 30. 

For the meantime, Tan is expected to steer the company in a new direction.

Asked if there will be big changes in PAL, Tan said: “Yes, a lot.”

Tan, daughter of taipan and PAL chairman Lucio Tan, earlier said she intends to work on a plan that would be aligned with attaining her father’s vision for the flag carrier.

However, she said she has to get all the information first to plan correctly, adding that “definitely we will make use of all the good people and talents of PAL.”

PAL said Tan, who is also the company’s executive vice president, treasurer and chief administrative officer, is working closely with the outgoing PAL president for a smooth and orderly transition.