Akbar al-Baker

Company: Qatar Airways
Position: CEO

Biography: As CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar al-Baker will be responsible for preparing the airline in the coming months for its planned stock market flotation in 2012.

An initial public offering of the national carrier has been on the cards since it was set up in 1993. But it is only now the company is expected to achieve three consecutive years of profitability that the flotation looks set to go ahead. Al-Baker became CEO in 1997 and has led the rapid growth of the airline, which operated just four aircraft in a regional capacity before his appointment.

Al-Baker holds a private pilot’s licence and is also CEO of several divisions of Qatar Airways, including Qatar Airways Holidays, Qatar Aviation Services, Qatar Duty Free Company, Doha International airport, Qatar Distribution Company, and Qatar Aircraft Catering Company.

Al-Baker worked at various levels in Qatar’s Civil Aviation Directorate before joining Qatar Airways. He has a degree in economics and commerce.

Contact: www.qatarairways.com