Dhiren Dabee Appointed President of Air Mauritius: 'A Great Challenge and Responsibility'

Dhiren Dabee has been appointed as the president of Air Mauritius, effective immediately, following the resignation of Kishore Beegoo on October 23. This appointment comes at a time when the Mauritian airline is facing significant financial and technical challenges. Dhiren Dabee, a former Solicitor General, has previously served on the board of directors multiple times and was reappointed as a board member earlier this January.

In an interview, Dabee expressed a cautious optimism, acknowledging the weight of his new responsibilities. He stated, "This is an appointment I did not expect, but since it is the wish of the majority shareholder and supported by the other board members, I welcome this decision." He emphasized the enormity of the task ahead, saying, "It is indeed a great challenge and a significant responsibility, but it is not solely mine."

He praised the existing team, noting, "I know there is a very good technical team at the helm of Air Mauritius. We also have the holding company AHL, chaired by Megh Pillay. [Air Mauritius] will benefit from the guidance of the holding company, and we have CEO André Viljoen, an aviation expert with proven experience at Fiji Airways, along with the board members. We expect a lot from our CEO and our administrative and technical staff. Together, we can always do better, and we are committed to overcoming the challenges in the months and years to come."

Since the reconstitution of the board earlier this year, challenges have become apparent. "We realized that there are numerous challenges, the main ones being the financial state and upcoming financial commitments related to planes that have already been ordered and for which payment deadlines are approaching," explained the new president of Air Mauritius. Additionally, there is a "recurring issue with technical faults causing planes to remain grounded in various capitals." Cleaning efforts have been initiated since January, but recovery is expected to be a long process. "Significant work has been done to try to improve the situation since January. It won't happen overnight. It will take months, if not years, during which we will need to tackle challenges to see Air Mauritius flying again like it did in the early 2000s, or even before."

Dhiren Dabee, 68, is a seasoned lawyer with a degree in Law and Political Science from the University of Birmingham, and was called to the bar at Middle Temple in 1981. Retired from his position as Solicitor General in 2021, he currently serves as a legal advisor in the Attorney-General's office. His background includes key positions in the public sector: president of the Medical Board, the control and arbitration committee of the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority (MCIA), vice-president of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), and president of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). He has served on the boards of several entities, including Metro Express Ltd, State Bank (Mauritius) Ltd, and Mauritius Telecom. A specialist in labor law, industrial relations, and contractual negotiation, Dhiren Dabee has played a pivotal role in bilateral negotiations on air services as a participant and delegation leader. Appointed as a director on January 9, 2025, he had previously served on the board of Air Mauritius.

In a statement released on November 28, the board expressed its support for Dabee's appointment, assuring him of its "full support and cooperation." "The board congratulates him as the new president and pledges its total support."