CEO Brunner all set to fly out of BIAL

CEO Brunner all set to fly out of BIAL
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Overseeing the development and construction of a mega infrastructure project is no mean feat. But Albert Brunner, CEO of Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL), known as AB amongst his colleagues, met his commitments despite strong opposition and criticism to provide Bangalore with a new functional airport.
Now, this man who has been at the helm of affairs at BIAL for the past 7 years, is all set to fly out of the project. An official release from BIAL reads: “Brunner has decided to move on and not extend his contract with BIAL. The private promoters have nominated Marcel Hungerbehler, the current COO (chief operations officer) of BIAL, as the new CEO of BIAL as of February 1, 2009.”
Brunner was appointed as CEO of BIAL in 2002. He’s been in the airport business for the last 16 years and had played a key role in planning the $2 billion Zurich airport expansion in Switzerland.
“I have greatly appreciated the various excellent interactions with business leaders, politicians, officials, the highly competent and motivated staff of BIAL and personal friends over all these years and my decision to leave BIAL is purely personally motivated. After seven years in this position, the time for a change has come. I initially came here on a three-year contract but ended up making Bangalore my home for seven years,” said Brunner on his exit.
TOI was the first to report, in April, that Brunner would step down as CEO soon after the airport opened, and would not be there to see BIAL through its second phase of expansion.
Sources said Brunner’s most painful experience was the government’s apathy towards the airport infrastructure, connectivity and logistics. The government had enough and more time to develop adequate connectivity, as the project was mooted more than ten years ago. Brunner was one of the first to suggest the idea of a mass transportation Metro Rail link, which the government is now working on.