Italy's troubled carrier Alitalia on Thursday named Australian turnaround expert Cramer Ball it new chief executive officer, the first time it has appointed a non-Italian boss.
“The Nomination Committee interviewed many potential candidates in collaboration with international head hunters,” said an Alitalia statement after a shareholders meeting.
"Cramer Ball’s expertise in the air transport industry, managerial skills and change management drive were the deciding factors for the decision, " it added.
Ball will take up his position in early March, Alitalia said.
The 48-year-old Australian accountant has a reputation in the aviation industry for turning companies around and will replace Italian Silvano Cassano, who stepped down in September after just nine months in the job.
"I believe Cramer is the right person," Alitalia Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo said.
Alitalia is aiming to return to profit in 2017. The airline has not made a profit since 2002 and has been in crisis since the 1990s.
As their chief executive, Ball revived the fortunes of India's Jet Airways and Air Seychelles, both owned by United Arab Emirates carrier Etihad, which bought a 49-per-cent stake in Alitalia a year ago.
Ball has also worked for Etihad in Asia, Gulf Air and Qantas and will be the first chief executive officer of Alitalia to come from the airline industry.
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