Former Croatia Airline CEO to leave Gulf Air

NEWS FLASH

The former CEO of Croatia Airlines and the current head of Gulf Air will leave the Bahraini company at the end of the month after three years at the helm. Commenting on this development, the Chairman of Gulf Air’s Board of Directors, Zayed R. Alzayani said, “We extend our sincere thanks to Mr Krešimir Kučko for his dedication, contributions and services during his tenure with us. On behalf of Gulf Air’s Board of Directors, the airline’s management team and workforce I extend my thanks to him for his contributions and wish him success going forward”. Mr Kučko said, “I was truly honoured to have contributed to the success story of Gulf Air over the past three years amidst the many challenges we faced. Working with a talented, majority Bahraini workforce of aviation professionals has been a positive experience that saw us collectively deliver strong results for Gulf Air. The experience of living in the Kingdom of Bahrain has been truly incredible both for myself and my family; we have been warmly welcomed by all and truly embraced Bahrain’s rich culture”. Joining in 2017, Mr Kučko began his journey at Gulf Air by setting the organisation's strategy and a five-year network and fleet expansion plan. He significantly cut costs while increasing its revenue, rolling out a host of updated services for passengers and cutting operational losses. This was achieved in a challenging operating environment characterised by fluctuating fuel prices, growing competition and, most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic which has impacted the global aviation landscape.

Mr Kučko previously managed Croatia Airlines between 2012 and 2017. During his five-year tenure he led the company through a restructuring process, which included the launch eight new seasonal routes, but also the sale of numerous assets including slots at Heathrow Airport, the sale and leaseback of aircraft and engines, the sale of affiliated companies and disputes with the workforce which resulted in one of the longest strikes in the company’s history. However, his strategy saw the airline register five consecutive years of profit.