Former SriLankan Airlines CEO appointed chief financial officer of Jet Airways

Jalan Kalrock Consortium, the new proposed  promoters of Jet Airways, has appointed Vipula Gunatilleka as the chief financial officer (CFO).

Gunatilleka, who was the chief executive officer of SriLankan Airlines until January 2022, will be taking charge from March 1.

“We are excited to welcome Vipula Gunatilleka to our young and energetic team. Vipula is an aviation expert and regarded as a turnaround specialist in the industry. He has been shortlisted after a rigorous process run by our executive team over the last several months. I am certain Vipula will be an asset to the organisation and will provide the necessary vision to revive the operations of Jet Airways as per the plans of the Consortium,” said Ankit Jalan, member of the monitoring committee of Jet Airways and part of Jalan-Kalrock Consortium.

Before SriLankan Airlines, Gunatilleka was the CFO and board member of TAAG Angola Airlines from November 2015 to July 2018 under Emirates’ management. He played a pivotal role to turn around the loss-making national carrier of Angola.

“I am very excited to join the company and I look forward to contributing my knowledge of the last 30 years to Jet Airways’ resurgence in its new avatar. We will capitalise on the strong brand value which Jet Airways has in the market and use it to rebuild the lost ground,” said Gunatilleka.

“I first joined SriLankan Airlines as its CFO in 2001 when it was part of the Emirates Group and was establishing its feet in the Indo-Pacific Sub-Continent. Having spent sufficient time in leadership roles in the aviation industry including as CEO of SriLankan Airlines until January 2022, I am aware of the responsibility that lingers on the shoulders of the leadership team, especially the CFO, and I am confident Jet Airways will soon regain its lost glory,” he added.