New group chief executive at Arik Air

The executive board of Arik Air Limited (Nigeria), announced today the secondment of Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide from Arik International to Arik Air Limited (Nigeria) as its chief executive officer, effective Monday, December 21, 2009.

Arik International provides logistical business support and management consultancy services to Arik Air Limited (Nigeria). Dr Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, who has to date served as the airline’s executive director, set up Arik International (headquartered in London, UK) in April 2007 and currently serves as Arik International’s chief executive officer.

Hence with his concurrent roles, Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide will operate as the group chief executive officer of both Arik Air Ltd. (Nigeria) and Arik International. Dr Arumemi-Ikhide’s confirmation follows the recent secondments of Mr. Jason Holt, managing director; Mr. Kevin Dudley, chief operation officer; and Mr. John Roijen, chief financial officer to Arik Air Limited (Nigeria).

Announcing the new appointment in Lagos, the chairman of Arik Air Limited, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide said: “Dr Michael Arumemi-Ikhide is a highly-educated, industrious, and dynamic professional who has made significant contributions to the growth of the airline from embryonic conception to its present-day reality. He has also been responsible for conceiving, rolling out, and developing Arik Air’s international arm and marshaling our successful international expansion. I am delighted to have him seconded to lead the senior management team (comprised of Mr. Jason Holt, managing director; Mr. Chris Ndulue, deputy managing director; Mr. Kevin Dudley, chief operating officer; Mr. John Roijen, chief financial officer; and Mr. Suraj Sundaram, chief commercial officer) and the Arik Air organization through its next growth phase.”

Accepting his elevation to the post of group CEO, Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide said: “The story of our path to present day is one of truly heroic and remarkable proportions. By any means or metric, Arik Air’s domestic, regional, and international accomplishments – in just over three short years – must rival, or outpace, that of any airline operating domestically or internationally. It is a success and reputation built by the toil and endeavor of many venerable individuals from all corners of the business. I count myself fortunate to have shared the experience with such a notable collective across both Arik Air Ltd (Nigeria) and Arik International. Hence, I am sincerely humbled by the appointment and the trust invested in me by the chairman, executive board, and the business at large. I am, however, also enthused by the challenge and remain confident that together with the plethora of laudable expertise available in the senior management teams (as well as throughout the organization) I will be able to lead, marshal, and galvanize the business towards a sustained position of dominance. My vision is to deliver to the people of Nigeria (and Africa at large) a truly world-class, global airline that celebrates all that is best in our nation both now and in the future.”

Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide holds a doctorate degree in chemical engineering from the University of Edinburgh, UK. As well as one of the founding board directors of Arik Air, Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide is also a member of the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR) UK and a member of the Aviation Club UK.
The managing director, Arik Air Ltd. Nigeria (presently Mr. Jason Holt), as well as the managing director, Arik International (not occupied at this time but functionally serviced by the chief operating officer, currently Mr. Conor Prendergast) shall report directly to the group CEO, Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide.

Arik Air is Nigeria’s leading commercial airline. It operates a fleet of 31 state-of-the art regional, medium-haul, and long-haul aircraft. The airline currently serves 22 airports across Nigeria, as well as Accra (Ghana), Banjul (Gambia), Cotonou (Benin), Dakar (Senegal), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Niamey (Niger), London Heathrow (UK), Johannesburg (South Africa), and New York JFK (USA).

The airline currently operates 130 flights daily from its hubs in Lagos and Abuja.