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OSLO, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Loss-making Norwegian Air
has appointed a new chief executive to take charge of the budget
carrier's ongoing restructuring, the board said on Wednesday.
Jacob Schram, who joins Norwegian from being an advisor at
McKinsey, replaces Bjoern Kjos, the company's founder who
stepped down in July after building the carrier into Europe's
third-largest budget airline.
Schram, 57, led the process in 2010 to list Statoil's petrol
station business, Statoil Fuel and Retail, later acquired by
Canada's Couche-Tard to become Circle K.
"His extensive management experience from global companies,
proven leadership skills, strong commercial consumer orientation
and impressive track record of value creation will greatly
benefit Norwegian as the company enters into a new phase," board
Chairman Niels Smedegaard said in a statement.
Since July, Norwegian has been run on an interim basis by
Chief Financial Officer Geir Karlsen, who has raised cash,
postponed debt payments, sold off assets and cut unprofitable
routes to keep the company alive.
Karlsen will now continue as CFO as well as deputy CEO.
(Reporting by Terje Solsvik and Gwladys Fouche)