Kenya Airways has announced an executive shake-up saying chief executive Allan Kilavuka will step down after completing his six-year tenure at the helm of the national carrier.
The airline said Kilavuka, who joined Kenya Airways in 2019, will proceed on terminal leave ahead of the expiry of his contract. He led the company through the severe disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and a subsequent recovery in revenues and freight volumes.
In a statement, the board praised Kilavuka’s “commitment, dedication and diligence”, crediting him with steering the airline through one of the most challenging periods in its history and helping to restore its operational viability.
Captain George Kamal, the airline’s chief operating officer, has been appointed acting group managing director and chief executive with effect from December 16, the company said. Kamal has more than 29 years of aviation experience across the Middle East and Africa, having previously held senior roles at Air Arabia and Iraqi Airways.
The board said it would launch a competitive process to appoint a substantive chief executive, while Kamal leads the carrier on an interim basis.
Kenya Airways said its priority remains the completion of its turnaround strategy, aimed at securing long-term operational reliability, sustainability and growth. A central part of the plan is the search for a strategic investor to support the airline’s financial restructuring.
Kilavuka’s departure follows the retirement earlier this year of long-serving chairman Michael Joseph, who stepped down in June after nine years on the board. Together, the two oversaw the airline’s recovery from the pandemic, including a return to profitability in 2024 and the reinstatement of its shares on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
