KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 10): AirAsia Group Bhd group chief executive officer (CEO) Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said he would take Universal Music Group BV chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge’s job “in a second” if Fernandes had a choice between both roles.
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Fernandes said he is doing his best to bring music to AirAsia as much as possible as the company is closely watched for its diversification into other businesses to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic-driven movement restrictions which has stifled the global aviation sector’s growth.
“I will take Lucian’s job in a second,” Fernandes told Asia’s Got Talent judge David Foster when Foster asked Fernandes whether he would choose to become the chief of Universal Music or AirAsia if he had a choice.
Foster told Fernandes: “Don’t be politically correct. Just answer truthfully.”
Foster was Fernandes’ latest guest in the latter’s “Talks With Tony” programme.
Taking a cue from Fernandes’ ability to diversify AirAsia’s business, Foster described Fernandes as an “unstoppable” businessman.
“You are going to end up doing it all. You are unstoppable,” Foster told Fernandes.
Prior to AirAsia which Fernandes acquired in 2001, he was involved in the music industry.
According to online reports, Fernandes was formerly an executive in Malaysia for Warner Music Inc and a vice president for Warner Music’s Southeast Asia operations.
Meanwhile, Foster has been closely watched for his role as a judge for Asia’s Got Talent together with co-judges Anggun and Jay Park.
It was reported that Asia’s Got Talent, which was started in 2015, has been televised across 15 countries in Asia.
Loss-making AirAsia Group’s diversification to become more than just an airline has been closely watched as the aviation industry contends with pandemic-driven movement restrictions which have brought the sector to its knees.
It was reported that AirAsia Group was building a super app to facilitate the group’s diversification into delivery services and air taxi operations.
News reports in March 2021 quoted Fernandes as saying “the air taxi will have a pilot and four seats” and that the service should start in about 18 months from March 2021.
On Wednesday (Sept 8, 2021), AirAsia Group reported that net loss narrowed to RM580.06 million in the second quarter ended June 30, 2021 (2QFY21) from a net loss of RM992.89 million a year earlier although revenue rose significantly to RM370.61 million from RM142.09 million.
For 1HFY21, AirAsia Group said cumulative net loss stood at RM1.35 billion versus a net profit of RM1.8 billion a year earlier as revenue fell to RM686.82 million from RM2.49 billion.
AirAsia Group’s rejuvenation and diversification will be closely watched. For now, it is however unclear if AirAsia Group will venture into the music industry.
Foster is optimistic about such a possibility when he said during the “Talks With Tony” programme that Fernandes will “find a way” to get music into AirAsia Group.
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KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 10): AirAsia Group Bhd group chief executive officer (CEO) Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said he would take Universal Music Group BV chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge’s job “in a second” if Fernandes had a choice between both roles.
Fernandes said he is doing his best to bring music to AirAsia as much as possible as the company is closely watched for its diversification into other businesses to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic-driven movement restrictions which has stifled the global aviation sector’s growth.
“I will take Lucian’s job in a second,” Fernandes told Asia’s Got Talent judge David Foster when Foster asked Fernandes whether he would choose to become the chief of Universal Music or AirAsia if he had a choice.
Foster told Fernandes: “Don’t be politically correct. Just answer truthfully.”
Foster was Fernandes’ latest guest in the latter’s “Talks With Tony” programme.
Taking a cue from Fernandes’ ability to diversify AirAsia’s business, Foster described Fernandes as an “unstoppable” businessman.
“You are going to end up doing it all. You are unstoppable,” Foster told Fernandes.
Prior to AirAsia which Fernandes acquired in 2001, he was involved in the music industry.
According to online reports, Fernandes was formerly an executive in Malaysia for Warner Music Inc and a vice president for Warner Music’s Southeast Asia operations.
Meanwhile, Foster has been closely watched for his role as a judge for Asia’s Got Talent together with co-judges Anggun and Jay Park.
It was reported that Asia’s Got Talent, which was started in 2015, has been televised across 15 countries in Asia.
Loss-making AirAsia Group’s diversification to become more than just an airline has been closely watched as the aviation industry contends with pandemic-driven movement restrictions which have brought the sector to its knees.
It was reported that AirAsia Group was building a super app to facilitate the group’s diversification into delivery services and air taxi operations.
News reports in March 2021 quoted Fernandes as saying “the air taxi will have a pilot and four seats” and that the service should start in about 18 months from March 2021.
On Wednesday (Sept 8, 2021), AirAsia Group reported that net loss narrowed to RM580.06 million in the second quarter ended June 30, 2021 (2QFY21) from a net loss of RM992.89 million a year earlier although revenue rose significantly to RM370.61 million from RM142.09 million.
For 1HFY21, AirAsia Group said cumulative net loss stood at RM1.35 billion versus a net profit of RM1.8 billion a year earlier as revenue fell to RM686.82 million from RM2.49 billion.
AirAsia Group’s rejuvenation and diversification will be closely watched. For now, it is however unclear if AirAsia Group will venture into the music industry.
Foster is optimistic about such a possibility when he said during the “Talks With Tony” programme that Fernandes will “find a way” to get music into AirAsia Group. -The Edge Markets