Yesterday Kenya Airways had a press conference with new Chairman Michael Joseph and outgoing CEO Mbuvi Ngunze. They spoke of restructuring changes happening at the company some of which included:

• CEO search: Kenya Airways has listed between 15 and 18 candidates for CEO position, from all over the world. Shortlist will be 3-4 for final interviews (Via @wgkantai)
• Challenges with staff. During the restructuring, some engineers have left KQ to work for Middle-East carriers. Crucially, the Chairman now seems to agree with the CEO on the need to revisit talks with the pilots union and to enhance staff productivity during the restructuring.
• The contract with Mckinsey consulting is being wound down. It had been criticized for being very expensive. Many of the restructuring initiatives under the airline’s Operation Pride for revenue generation and cost saving were formulated by KQ staff and are being implemented by KQ staff, and hence the consultants’ time is over. Mr. Joseph said that this restructuring plan is now 55% complete.
• KLM partnership:  The chairman defended the joint venture between KLM and KQ which some of the airline’s critics, especially its pilots, a claim was to the airline’s disadvantage. “Right now KLM is the best partner for us in terms of the route structure. The benefit is to KQ because KLM flies more routes and sells more tickets. We get revenues from the countries we don’t fly to into the joint venture. In the end, we benefit”
• The Chief Executive of KLM resigned from the KQ board and was replaced by Jos Veenstra who is a chartered accountant and is currently the VP Mergers Acquisitions and Holdings for Air France/KLM, and who has ben alternate director at KQ. It does not appear to be related with the restructuring. (via Capital FM)