AirAsia CEO casts other work aside amid accounting worries

Singapore

AIRASIA Bhd boss Tony Fernandes has told staff and analysts he will spend more time working on the budget airline and put his other business and sporting interests to one side, after a report questioning the company's accounts sent its share price tumbling.

The chief executive said his other work will take a back seat as he focuses on repairing the financial damage to Asia's largest low-cost airline, according to analysts and two AirAsia executives who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Analysts covering the airline say Mr Fernandes told them that he, and his long-term business partner Kamarudin Meranun, would become more hands on. "Tony told us in a conference call last week that he and Kamarudin will take a back seat to everyt…