Habil Waswani Named Kenya Airways Acting CEO

• Habil Waswani, Kenya Airways' Company Secretary and Director of Legal Services, has been appointed acting CEO.
• This appointment follows the resignation of Captain George Kamal, who will formally exit on September 30, 2026, after a 30-day transition period.
• Mr. Waswani brings over 24 years of corporate and commercial legal experience, including more than five years overseeing aviation legal matters at Kenya Airways.
• The airline's Board has expressed full support for Mr. Waswani and is actively recruiting a permanent Group Managing Director and CEO.
• Kenya Airways remains committed to its turnaround strategy, focusing on operational reliability, financial sustainability, and growth.

The appointment of Mr. Waswani, a professional deeply rooted in legal and compliance frameworks, suggests a potential reinforcement of corporate governance and regulatory adherence within Kenya Airways.

Kenya Airways has announced a significant change in its executive leadership, appointing Habil Waswani, the airline's current Company Secretary, as its acting Chief Executive Officer. This pivotal leadership transition comes in the wake of Captain George Kamal's resignation from the top executive post. The national flag carrier's Board of Directors confirmed that Captain Kamal's departure was prompted by personal reasons, concluding a tenure of over a year within the airline's senior management.

Captain Kamal's exit will not be immediate, as he is slated to remain with Kenya Airways for a 30-day transition period. His formal departure from the company is scheduled for September 30, 2026. During his time in executive leadership, the Board lauded Captain Kamal for his unwavering commitment, dedication, and diligence, acknowledging his substantial and broad expertise in the aviation sector.

The Board specifically highlighted Captain Kamal's instrumental role in stabilizing the airline's operations during his tenure as Chief Operating Officer. Furthermore, he was credited with guiding the company through a previous executive leadership transition and, more recently, spearheading the executive team's efforts in implementing Kenya Airways' ongoing turnaround strategy. The Board conveyed its profound gratitude to Captain Kamal for his service and leadership over the years.

Habil Waswani, who currently holds the dual roles of Company Secretary and Director of Legal Services and Regulatory Compliance, is set to assume the responsibilities of acting CEO on September 15. This Habil Waswani KQ appointment places a seasoned legal professional at the helm of the airline during a critical juncture.

Mr. Waswani brings an impressive professional background to his new acting role, boasting more than 24 years of experience specializing in corporate and commercial law. His tenure at Kenya Airways spans over five years, during which he has been responsible for overseeing a wide array of legal matters pertinent to aviation and airline operations, alongside broader commercial and corporate legal affairs.

Beyond his direct experience with the national carrier, Mr. Waswani is recognized as an accomplished corporate governance practitioner. His professional journey also includes valuable experience garnered from the banking and insurance sectors, further diversifying his expertise. The Board has unequivocally expressed its full confidence and backing for Mr. Waswani as he steps into this interim leadership position. Concurrently, the Board has initiated a competitive recruitment process to identify and appoint a substantive Group Managing Director and CEO, with expectations for this search to conclude in the near term.

The leadership change, with Habil Waswani Kenya Airways acting CEO, signals a continued focus on the airline's ambitious turnaround strategy. This comprehensive plan is designed to steer the national carrier towards sustained viability and growth, a crucial endeavor for Kenya aviation legal leadership.

Central to this strategy are several key objectives: enhancing operational reliability across all facets of the airline's services, achieving a sustainable positive financial performance to ensure long-term stability, and realizing its broader growth ambitions within the competitive aviation landscape. The Board emphasized that this strategic direction enjoys the full support of the company's shareholders, underscoring a unified commitment to its successful implementation.

The appointment of Mr. Waswani, a professional deeply rooted in legal and compliance frameworks, suggests a potential reinforcement of corporate governance and regulatory adherence within Kenya Airways. His background as KQ Company Secretary acting CEO, with extensive experience in legal services and regulatory compliance, positions him uniquely to navigate the complex legal and operational challenges inherent in the aviation sector. This leadership choice may indicate an increased emphasis on legal risk management and robust compliance protocols as the airline progresses with its strategic reforms.

This appointment places a legal and compliance professional at the helm of Kenya Airways during a critical turnaround period, suggesting a potential increased emphasis on corporate governance, regulatory adherence, and legal risk management within the airline. Lawyers and compliance officers dealing with KQ or in the aviation sector should note this shift in leadership focus.

Source: Original reporting via The Standard