AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes sparked controversy after he shared a shirtless picture of himself while getting a massage as he was attending a virtual management meeting at the same time
In a now deleted post on LinkedIn, Tony Fernandes had mentioned Indonesia AirAsia CEO Veranita Yosephine. The post read, “Was a stressful week, and Veranita Yosephine suggested a massage. Got to love Indonesia and Air Asia culture that I can have a massage and do a management meeting.”
Tony Fernandes’ attempt to highlight the unique work culture in an Asian country found some takers as they found his unconventional leadership style relaxed. However, many slammed and trolled the AirAsia CEO as they felt it was unprofessional and inappropriate for a CEO to breach corporate decorum in this manner. “He should be setting an example of good work ethics and culture, not flaunting his body and privilege," a user commented
Tony Fernandes is a serial entrepreneur from Malaysia whose most well known venture is the low-budget airline AirAsia, part of Tune Air Sdn. Bhd. Fernandes’ Tune Group of companies also includes Tune Hotels that operates on a no frills business model
Born Anthony Francis Fernandes in Kuala Lumpur on April 30, 1964, he had a Goan father and a mother of mixed Malayali and Asian-Portuguese (Kristang) descent who was raised in Malaysia. Fernandes’ initial schooling was from the Alice Smith School, an international school in Kuala Lumpur but when he was 12, he went to the Epsom College boarding school in England. He later graduated with an accounting degree from the London School of Economics
Tony Fernandes, renowned for his illustrious career, embarked on his professional journey as an auditor for Virgin Atlantic, a prominent British airline. Despite his eventual success, it is intriguing to note that Tony faced initial rejection during his interview but then he coincidentally bumped into Virgin Group owner Sir Richard Branson and convinced him to give him the job. Fernandes went on to work for Virgin Records and Warner Music
It was in 2001 that Tony Fernandes’ tryst with AirAsia began. With debts of $11 million approx, AirAsia, the debt-ridden subsidiary of the Malaysian government-owned conglomerate DRB-Hicom, was burning through money. Fernandes wanted to start a budget no-frills airline so he mortgaged his home and used his personal savings to acquire AirAsia for a token sum of just one Malaysian ringgit (about 30 US cents). The acquisition was along with his co-founder Kamarudin Meranun. In only a year after the takeover, AirAsia broke even and managed to clear all its debts. In November 2004, the AirAsia IPO became a huge success as it was oversubscribed by 130 per cent
Tony Fernandes started the Caterham Formula One team and established Caterham Racing to partake in the GP2 Series. His firm acquired Caterham Cars, with the overarching Caterham Group overseeing various automotive and motor racing enterprises. Subsequently, Fernandes and his partner Kamarudin Meranun divested these ventures. Tony Fernandes also owned the Queens Park Rangers football club till July 2023. He has also been on a reality TV show as he hosted the first season of The Apprentice Asia in 2013
As per Forbes, Tony Fernandes’ estimated net worth was $335 million when he featured in Malaysia's 50 Richest 2020 list. Fernandes has a daughter Aliyah Ena Fernandes with his wife Chloe Kim, who is South Korean. He also has two children Stephanie and Stephen from his first marriage to Deborah Lee Bergstrom. The two separated in 2004 after ten years of marriage