Peter Bellew

Peter Bellew is the group managing director and chief executive officer of Malaysia Airlines. He is a veteran in the tourism and aviation industry with over 30 years of experience in related fields.

Early career in the tourism industry (1987 - present)

Originally from Bettystown, Ireland, he was schooled at CBS St Marys Drogheda before attending C.B.C. Monkstown in Dublin. Bellew graduated with a Bachelor of Business Studies and MA in Economics from Trinity College Dublin in 1987. In the same year, he joined CIE Tours, an Irish coach tour operator, as a manager in charge of its London operations. He subsequently founded Drive Ireland in 1989, Irish Cottage Club in 1998, and also ventured into online travel management with Vbnets / Wapprofit in 2001.

Aviation career

Kerry Airport (1993 - 1998)

Bellew's first venture into the aviation industry in a management capacity was in 1993 with Kerry Airport, Killarney, Ireland. Under his tenure as director and general manager, he was credited to being able to substantially increase passenger volume from 6,000 to more than 400,000.

RyanAir (2006 - 2015)

In 2006, Bellew joined Irish low-cost airline RyanAir as deputy director of flight operations, and had hold various capacities throughout his career there, including head of sales and marketing, director of flight operations, as well as director of training and recruitment.

Malaysia Airlines (2015 - present)

On September 1, 2015, Bellew joined Malaysian flag carrier Malaysia Airlines from RyanAir as chief operations officer, as part of the airline's ongoing restructuring program amid huge financial losses, compounded with the twin major aviation disasters of MH370 and MH17 in 2014. Under his tenure, he oversaw parts of the restructuring program led by former Aer Lingus chief Christoph Mueller that saw a 6,000-job cut by the airline.

On July 1, 2016, Bellew officially took over as chief executive officer from Mueller, who resigned from the company less than a year into his contract, citing changing personal circumstances. While it is said that Bellew's appointment ensured continuity to Mueller's unfinished work, it stirred further controversy within Malaysia, as some parties are uncomfortable with the appointment of another foreigner to head the national flag carrier. He is the third CEO of the airline in two years, and only the second ever foreign CEO after Mueller.