OREANDA-NEWS. June 03, 2011. The Supervisory Council of Estonian Air has named Tero Taskila as the CEO and President of Estonian Air, reported the press-centre of Estonian Air.

„We have been looking for a leader with international experience combined with a great business and strategic sense and ability to lead the Company in a complex competitive environment,” said Joakim Helenius, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Estonia Air.
“Estonian Air is on the threshold of a new era as the person with so broad international experience will take the position of CEO of Estonian Air. Therefore, I am very excited to introduce Tero Taskila today,“ continued Helenius.

“Estonian Air came out strong from biggest crisis in history which has impacted aviation and is in a good position to grow its business. We will start developing our network, providing more direct air connections to and from Estonia. To be successful, we have to become better listeners and act with common sense to keep good balance between expectations and real possibilities,” explained Tero Taskila, the new President and CEO of Estonian Air.

“Estonia and Estonians are known as innovative, smart and quick in implementing novel technologies. Estonians' love for the creative, simple and practical solutions have created success stories in Internet and mobile technology. I strongly believe that many of these positive attributes of Estonia as a country and Estonians as people, should be part Estonian Air as well. We start building the new Estonian Air already from today with launching a project “My Estonian Air”. The project allows our employees, customers, owners and partners participate in shaping their own airline for the future.” added Taskila.

Tero Taskila brings with him significant and relevant experience of over 14 years in key commercial and strategic management areas of the airline business, along with an excellent operational understanding.

Taskila is one of the leading experts globally in strategic issues in aviation and sough after speaker in conferences, seminars and universities on strategic and commercial issues. He is also respected analyst and advisor for media and investors on aviation related matters in the Nordic countries. Tero Taskila is a regular lecturer about leadership and strategy development at the universities in Germany, United Kingdom and Middle East.

Tero Taskila started his aviation career with Finnair working in the company’s several key divisions such as ground handling, IT, network planning (including the Europe-Asia network strategy designing) and moved on to become the Senior Consultant of Lufthansa Consulting. He has worked on restructuring projects around the world. Before joining Estonian Air, he has spent past five years in leadership positions Middle East and Europe in such airlines asQatar Airways, Gulf Air and airBaltic

Tero Taskila is 36 years old Finnish national. He is married and has two sons; his hobbies are reading, ice hockey and coaching.