Gary Toomey resigns as CEO of Jet Airways

Gary Kenneth Toomey, chief executive of Jet Airways, on Thursday quit the airline in an unexpected move, becoming the second CEO to leave the airline in less than a year.

"Gary Kenneth Toomey, chief executive of the company has resigned with immediate effect," Jet Airways said in a BSE filing on Thursday.

Toomey, an Australian national, was appointed only last June on a three-year contract, after CEO Nikos Kardassis quit in April last year.

Ravishankar Gopalakrishnan, the chief financial officer of the airline, will officiate as the "acting chief executive officer" till the board appoints a new chief, the airline said.

It is, however, not yet known as to what led to the sudden exit of Toomey.

Toomey was appointed chief executive of Jet Airways after CEO Nikos Kardassis quit the airline over some alleged differences with Naresh Goyal, promoter of the carrier, over sale of stake to Gulf carrier Etihad.

Kardassis resigned from the Jet board immediately after the Indian carrier agreed to sell a 24-per cent stake to Etihad for Rs2,058 crore in April last year.

The deal was concluded last November, but is still being challenged in the apex court over various allegations of collusion and corrupt practices in arriving at the deal.

Toomey had earlier served as president and chief executive of Air New Zealand Group and CEO of Airlines PNG in Papua New Guinea.