From today, a new chief executive officer is in control of the Hungarian national carrier, which was privatized this spring. Dr. Janos Gonci is replaced by British expert Lloyd Paxton, who has many years of experience in the airline industry. The owners and boards of Malev Hungarian Airlines thank Dr. Janos Gonci for his services to the airline. The former CEO leaves the airline by mutual agreement.

From 1960, Lloyd Paxton worked for 35 years at British Airways in a variety of consultative and managerial positions including heading up such key areas as Manager Operational Security and Emergency Response, Manager Safety and Security, and Overseas Area and Regional Manager. Later he also held important positions in both executive and advisory roles including international commercial activities, customer service, ground handling, government relations, airport safety and passenger security, airline operations and administration.

He gained further senior managerial experience as founder President (CEO) of Air Astana (established: 2002), the national carrier of Kazakhstan, and under his leadership the airline expanded dynamically and secured a profitable operation.

Lloyd Paxton, who holds British citizenship, is an adaptable and highly energetic senior airline manager with wide international experience and a consistent strong track record of delivering results.

The Board of Directors of the Hungarian national airline acknowledges the achievements of Dr. Janos Gonci in ensuring a smooth privatization process, in preparing the way and carrying out accession to the oneworld airline alliance, and in maintaining the corporation’s liquidity. The Board also thanks the former CEO for continuing as senior manager of the company after its takeover, in the interests of ensuring a trouble-free transition, until the appointment of a successor by the new owner. Dr. Janos Gonci leaves the company by common agreement. However, at the same time he continues to assist the work of the airline as a member of the Board of Directors of Malev.