Gulf Air needs stability, central vision and structure

On the subject of chief executives, it seems that Gulf Air, the Bahrain-based carrier, has decided to dispense with the services of its. Bjorn Naf was replaced last week – rather embarrassingly just one day after he gave a speech to London's Aviation Club in the grand settings of Pall Mall. The incoming boss, Samer Majali, has achieved great things with Royal Jordanian, where he led the turnaround of an airline that was lucky to survive the 1990s. I suspect that he may have been parachuted into Gulf Air to perform a similar trick. However, Majali is now Gulf Air's fourth chief executive in seven years and that is unsettling for any business. Given its turbulent history, what Gulf Air needs more than anything now is stability, a centrally imposed vision and coherent structure. The airline was initially formed as a co-operative venture between the governments of Bahrain, Oman, Abu Dhabi and Qatar. Only Bahrain remains because the other three decided they could do better on their own. The problem for Gulf Air is that the legacy of inter-state co-operation has left it a rather soulless organisation that needs to develop its own culture as well as a modus operandi that will differentiate it in the crowded skies. Keep up with the latest business news from the region with the daily Emirates Business 24|7 newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here .