Management turbulence hits EVA

EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空) yesterday received its largest-ever management shake-up in the ten years since its establishment.

At the company's annual shareholder meeting, it was voted that chairman of Evergreen International (長榮國際) Cheng Chin-chuan (鄭金泉), 68, would take over as chairman of the airline.

Cheng has previously served as vice chairman of EVA in the two-and-a-half years after the company's founding in 1989.

Current president of UNI Airways Corp (立榮航空) -- which is partly owned by EVA -- Wu Ching-ming (吳景明), will take up the position of president at EVA.

Another notable reassignment was made by Chang Kuo-wei (張國煒) -- son of Evergreen Group chairman Chang Jung-fa (張榮發) -- who was made head of the planning department.

Chang Kuo-wei, 31, has been described by the media as the Evergreen Group's brightest star. He previously served as CEO of the entire group.

It is suspected that Chang Kuo-wei, who is the youngest of Chang Chin-chuan's four sons, is being groomed for a top management position within the airline.

In the 10 years since EVA was founded, this is the first time that a reshuffle of management has taken place.

In related news, EVA announced yesterday that its total revenue for 2000 had climbed 13 percent to hit NT$54.5 billion.

The group's board also said that it wants to invest under NT$50 million across the Strait in China. The move is an apparent effort to prepare for eventual direct links between Taiwan and the mainland.