Philippine Air’s Owner Lucio Tan Will Be Transitional President

(Bloomberg) -- Billionaire Lucio Tan will be the interim president of his Philippine Airlines Inc. after the retirement of its long-time head.

Tan will serve as president immediately, according to his daughter Vivienne Tan, in an emailed reply to Bloomberg News’ request for confirmation that the tycoon who’s been the airline’s chairman will serve on a concurrent capacity.

Vivienne, executive vice president of Philippine Air, said she will assist her father in the day to day operations. “Our goal is to ensure an orderly and seamless transition of leadership,” the younger Tan said, pending the approval by the airline’s board of a successor to Jaime Bautista who retired on June 30.

Parent PAL Holdings Inc., where ANA Holdings Inc. bought a 9.5% stake in January, has risen 13% this year.

To contact the reporters on this story: Siegfrid Alegado in Manila at aalegado1@bloomberg.net;Cecilia Yap in Manila at cyap19@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Cecilia Yap at cyap19@bloomberg.net, Clarissa Batino, Ditas Lopez

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