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The shock announcement
comes less than two weeks before the
airline is due to announce its full-year
results.
In a statement released on Wednesday,
the carrier’s board said chairman
Pieter Bouw would take over Dosé's
responsibilities on an interim basis
with immediate effect.
The board thanked Dosé for his efforts
in building the airline, formed from
the rump of Swissair, which collapsed
in late 2001.
“André Dosé led Swiss through the
most turbulent times, and he managed
- despite difficult overall conditions
- to initiate a turnaround,” the airline
said in a statement.
Media speculation
In
recent weeks, there has been intense
media speculation that Dosé
could be prosecuted by Swiss authorities
investigating the crash of a
Crossair
jet near Zurich airport in November
2001.
Dosé was in charge of Crossair at
the time of the accident.
“I made this decision because any
potential investigation would have
the effect of making it impossible
for me to operate as chief of Swiss,”
he said.
“For this reason the board suggested
suspending me during this period."
A report by Switzerland’s Aircraft
Accident Investigation Bureau last
month blamed the crash on pilot error,
but also criticised shortcomings within
the airline.
Investigators took issue with the
lack of safety controls and substandard
pilot training at Crossair.
The
Federal Prosecutor's Office has opened
a criminal investigation into possible
negligent homicide and grievous bodily
harm by negligence.
“I am today neither accused nor have
I in any way been contacted by federal
[investigating] authorities,” said
Dosé.
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The board
condemns the imputations,
personal attacks and prejudgements
to which Dosé has been
exposed.
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Swiss
board statement
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Personal attacks
The board hit back
at recent media criticism of Dosé’s
work at Swiss.
“The board condemns the imputations,
personal attacks and prejudgements
to which Dosé has been exposed in
the last few weeks and days,” the
board's statement said.
The board thanked Dosé for stepping
aside, saying it was “a decision he
has taken in the interests of the
company”.
Dosé’s departure has also triggered
a board reshuffle.
Bouw, who headed the Dutch carrier
KLM between 1991 and 1997, will maintain
his post as chairman.
However, Swiss said he would be assisted
by a second deputy chairman, the Swiss
businessman and journalist, Walter
Bosch.
Bosch will also act as “independent
lead director”, to ensure the carrier
respected “good corporate governance”,
the airline’s statement said.
Ailing airline
Dosé's departure comes
as the airline struggles to rebuild
public confidence in the face of financial
problems and ongoing losses.
Swiss last year narrowed its net loss
to SFr687 million ($546.5 million),
down from SFr980 million the previous
year.
The unaudited figure was unexpectedly
released last month ahead of its full-year
results due on March 23.
To cope, the carrier launched a major
restructuring which will see it slash
its staff and fleet by one third.
Swiss also needs to convince its banks
to lend it more money, or face a cash
crunch in coming months.
Aviation analyst Sepp Moser told swissinfo
that Dosé’s departure was “certainly
bad timing” and that he “may have
to take some responsibility” for the
Crossair crash.
“His resignation is linked to all
the troubles in this company, including
the financial troubles, structural
problems and cultural clashes between
former Swissair and Crossair employees,”
said Moser.
“These problems have still not been
solved.”
from swissinfo,
Jacob Greber |
