STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 12, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Soren Belin has been appointed to succeed Joergen Lindegaard as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Scandinavian Airlines, effective February 15, 2003. As leader of the Group's largest company, Soren Belin will also become a member of SAS AB's (Other OTC:SASDF) Group Management.
The SAS Board has decided that Group Management shall be expanded by one additional member with the appointment of Soren Belin as Executive Vice President of the SAS Group.
Soren Belin, 49, is a resident of Knivsta, Sweden and has many years experience within the transport and aviation industries. He joins SAS from the consulting firm Carta Booz Allen & Hamilton, where he was a partner and worked with the process of change within Scandinavian Airlines, among other projects.
Between 1995-98, he worked for ASG as Vice President and Sales Director, among other senior positions.
Prior to that, in 1990-95, Belin was employed by SAS within the company's station operations. Between 1993-95, he was responsible for SAS station operations in Sweden.
"Following an extensive recruitment process, we have finally found the right person to shoulder the challenges faced by Scandinavian Airlines. Soren Belin has solid hands-on experience of our sector and is highly competent to lead the process of change that is of special significance to us at the present time," said Joergen Lindegaard, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SAS Group.
"Scandinavian Airlines' personnel can stand tall and feel proud of their achievements. They are working for a very strong company, which I know from experience, shows its real strength when the going gets tough. The current situation is difficult; the market is declining and competition is intensifying, but we must adapt to the new conditions," said Soren Belin, designated COO of Scandinavian Airlines.
A CV and photograph is available at www.scandinavian.net under the "About SAS" tab.
For more information, please contact:
Ulf Thorne, Manager, Media and Public Relations SAS Group +46 8 797 28 33 or +46 709 97 28 33 SAS CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/02/12/20030212BIT00230/wkr0001.doc www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/02/12/20030212BIT00230/wkr0002.pdf