Newsmakers
Founder of China’s biggest aircraft lessor resigns in mysterious circumstances
July 1st 2015
Speculation surrounds the whereabouts of China Aircraft Leasing Group’s (CALC) founder and his finance chief after the aircraft lessor received a resignation letter from Mike Poon Ho-man on June 17. Read More » Media companies, Apple Daily and the South China Morning Post, reported Poon, the founder of the company, had been on leave since May 18, amid conjecture “he was involved in investigations related to the lessor’s first customer, China Southern Airlines (CSA)”. At the beginning of the year, CSA’s chief financial officer, Xu Jiebo, and three other senior executives, were removed from their positions after the Chinese authorities had commenced an investigation at the Guangzhou-based airline.
At press time, staff said they have not had any contact with Poon, who resigned without explanation. Former chief financial officer, Yu Tau Tei, also resigned, on May 22, “to pursue personal goals”, with effect on June 18.
Majority shareholder, the China Everbright Group (CEB), has appointed CALC chairman and non-executive director, Chen Shuang, to replace Hong Konger Poon and very new employee at CALC, Mok Chung Tat, as chief financial officer. CEB, which is controlled by Chinese government state-owned enterprise, China Everbright Ltd, is considered a buyer for Poon’s 33.72% holding in CALC.
