At the helm of Asia’s largest low cost airline is Tony Fernandes, the CEO who has worked tirelessly to build the airline into a thriving business since launching in 2001 with only two aircrafts. Fernandes adopted a hands-on approach to create business success, using his honest and open personality to create a loyal and engaged team. Fernandes is known for putting staff first, whether it’s giving every single employee his mobile phone number should they need to call him, or spending a day every couple of weeks working directly with crew and staff, he puts himself at the cold face of the business to stay in touch with his employees. His leadership was recently commended after his management of the tragic AirAsia Flight QZ8501 crash, highlighting the brand’s commitment to integrity and values – even in the face of adversity.