May 25 2011
Dato’ Anthony Francis Fernandes
Serial Entrepreneur, Founder & Owner of AirAsia.com, Owner of Lotus F1 team, 2009 Airline CEO of the Year
Tony Fernandes is the founder of Tune Air Sdn. Bhd., who introduced the first budget no-frills airline, AirAsia, Malaysia’s second largest airline of which he is the Director. He was also instrumental in lobbying the then-Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad in mid-2003, to propose the idea of open skies agreements with neighbouring Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore. As a result, these nations have granted landing rights to AirAsia and other discount carriers.
“Believe the Unbelievable, Dream the Impossible and Don’t Take No for An Answer” Tony Fernandes
Educated at Epsom College 1977-83 and then graduating from the London School of Economics in 1987, Tony Fernandes started his career at Virgin Atlantic as an auditor, subsequently becoming the financial controller for Richard Branson’s Virgin Records in London from 1987 to 1989. Upon his return to Malaysia, he became the youngest-ever managing director of Warner Music where he was responsible for revolutionising ethnic music. However, when Time Warner Inc announced its merger with America Online Inc., Fernandes left to pursue his dream of starting a budget no-frills airline. In 2009 he launched the first ever long-haul Low cost airline (with Sir Richard Branson) flying from London to Kuala Lumpur.[/expand]
Having joined the ranks of the world’s elite leaders in the ‘Young Global Leaders’, Tony Fernandes is a true visionary and exceptional leader whose presentations are high in actionable content and full of inspiration.[/expand]
A familiar face in the aviation industry as well as on an international level having been featured on the front cover of many high profile magazines, Tony Fernandes means business. He has an amicable, warm and yet highly informative style.[/expand]
Topics
Leadership
Aviation
Strategy
Entrepreneurship
Revolutionising Ethnic Music
Awards & Recognition
– International Herald Tribune Award for the “Visionaries & Leadership Series”, for his outstanding work in AirAsia;
– “Malaysian CEO of the Year 2003” in 2003 — a highly acclaimed recognition, so far awarded to only nine other recipients in the country, by American Express and Business Times.
– “Malaysian Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2006”
– 2009 Airline CEO of the Year by Janes Transport Finance Magazine.
– The Malaysian government honoured him with title Dato (same as ‘Sir’) in recognition of his services rendered to the betterment of the nation and community
– Tony was named BusinessWeek’s 25 Stars of Asia in 2004
Contact Dato’ Anthony Francis Fernandes for keynote speech:
To book Dato’ Anthony Francis Fernandes
Send an email
Or fill in the form below:
