Roy Kinnear resigns as Air Seychelles CEO |12 October 2017

Roy Kinnear will be stepping down as chief executive of Air Seychelles effective December 31, 2017, to pursue a further opportunity.

In a note to staff yesterday, Air Seychelles board chairman Jean Weeling Lee confirmed that Mr Kinnear is leaving the organisation in December.

“There will be opportunities to recognise Roy’s contribution to Air Seychelles, but for now, he is keen that we carry on with business as usual.

“It is important that we stay focused on business priorities in the coming weeks and months ahead of us, and on behalf of the board, I ask for your continued support during this transition period.

 “We will announce details on Roy’s successor in due course,” wrote Mr Weeling Lee.

Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Minister Maurice Loustau-Lalanne said “the decision by Mr Kinnear to resign as Air Seychelles chief executive has taken most of us by surprise”.

“Roy understood the business, he integrated well with the tourism trade in Seychelles and he had a lot to offer, but he has decided to resign,” said Mr Loustau-Lalanne.

He added: “He has resigned from Etihad Airways for him to take up a new job with a European airline, a much bigger airline than Air Seychelles.

“He wanted to go earlier but following discussions, we have agreed that he will only leave now at the end of December 2017 as the decision has come at a critical moment as Air Seychelles has some turbulent times ahead.

“We look to Etihad Airways to very quickly propose a replacement CEO to the chairman of Air Seychelles who will take it to the board and a decision will be taken on Mr Kinnear's replacement. Once chosen the replacement will have to double up with Mr Kinnear for at least one month before he leaves in December 2017.... We will ensure there is proper handover and proper continuity”.

Mr Kinnear took office on July 1, 2015 as replacement of Manoj Papa who had held office for 18 months.