Meet Thomas Oentoro, Former INA Executive
JAKARTA — Thomas Sugiarto Oentoro was appointed president director of Garuda Indonesia at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders on Thursday, 8 October 2026.
He replaces Glenny H. Kairupan, having served as deputy president director since October 2025. Glenny will continue as president commissioner, replacing Fadjar Prasetyo.
The leadership change is part of efforts to strengthen the momentum behind Garuda’s performance improvements, alongside revenue growth, fleet recovery and a narrowing of losses.
Maintaining the transformation programme is a priority to ensure that the business recovery is accompanied by stronger financial and operational conditions.
Before becoming deputy president director, Thomas served as an independent commissioner at Garuda Indonesia in 2023–2024. His experience in both oversight and management has given him insight into the company’s restructuring process and the challenges it faces.
Investment and risk-management background
Before joining Garuda’s board of directors, Thomas was chief risk officer at the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) in 2024–2025.
His career has also included roles as vice-president of OCBC’s Mezzanine Capital Unit and managing director at KV Asia Capital.
Thomas studied finance at NYU Stern School of Business and earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
His investment and risk-management background is relevant to Garuda’s needs as a capital-intensive airline. Fleet recovery and network development require financial, operational and commercial decisions to be aligned, so that additional capacity also strengthens the company’s revenue and cash flow.
Combining global experience and national capabilities
Alongside Thomas’s appointment, Garuda’s leadership has been strengthened with several professionals who have international experience, both on the board of directors and the board of commissioners.
The commercial director position has gone to Alan McIntyre, who has served as executive manager of strategy at Qantas Group and chief customer and commercial officer at Jetstar. His experience is relevant to strengthening network strategy, revenue management and customer experience.
Jaan Albrecht and Trey Urbahn have been appointed independent commissioners. Jaan’s career includes serving as chief executive of Saudia Airlines, Austrian Airlines and Star Alliance.
Trey’s experience includes advisory and oversight roles at several aviation companies, including Spirit Airlines, Etihad Airways and TAP Air Portugal.
The involvement of international professionals reflects the expertise needed to transform an airline operating in a global industry. Experience from different markets is expected to inform business decisions and the application of industry practices suited to Garuda’s needs and the characteristics of the Indonesian market.
Under the corporate governance framework, directors manage the company, while commissioners oversee its activities and provide advice. All office-holders are expected to put the company’s interests first, maintain professional standards and be accountable for carrying out their mandates in accordance with applicable rules.
The added value of international experience should also be realised through knowledge transfer and the development of national talent. Collaboration with Garuda’s professionals and employees is important to embed stronger capabilities across the organisation and support the continuity of its transformation.
Domestic aviation experience is also represented by Eric Ferdinand Sofyal, who has been appointed operations director. He previously served as operations director at Citilink and held several operational roles at Garuda Indonesia.
Dina Sandri Fani has taken the position of human capital and corporate services director, bringing experience in human-resources management at Indonesian and international companies.
Sustaining the performance-recovery momentum
Garuda Indonesia Group recorded revenue of US$1.80 billion in the first half of 2026, up 16 per cent from the same period a year earlier.
Net losses narrowed by 23.2 per cent to US$113 million, while earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) rose 12.7 per cent to US$74 million.
The improvement came as aviation fuel expenses rose by 43.6 per cent. Revenue growth and narrower losses indicate progress in the business recovery despite continued high cost pressures.
Operationally, the Garuda Indonesia Group had 104 aircraft in service at the end of June 2026. Aircraft availability supports the expansion of Garuda and Citilink’s networks, increased flight frequencies and the fulfilment of travel demand.
The first-half results reflect the collective work of management and employees, with Thomas among the leadership team at the time. The new leadership is expected to strengthen the programme through liquidity management, cost control, higher fleet productivity and consistent service.
With the recovery programme continuing, Thomas’s leadership challenge will be to turn the current momentum into sustainable financial improvement while strengthening Garuda’s competitiveness as the national airline.
Board of directors before the extraordinary general meeting
President director: Glenny H. Kairupan
Deputy president director: Thomas Sugiarto Oentoro
Finance and risk-management director: Balagopal Kunduvara
Operations director: Dani Haikal Iriawan
Technical director and acting commercial director: Mukhtaris
Human capital and corporate services director: Frans Dicky Tamara
Transformation director: Neil Raymond Mills
Board of directors after the extraordinary general meeting
President director: Thomas Sugiarto Oentoro
Finance and risk-management director: Balagopal Kunduvara
Operations director: Eric Ferdinand Sofyal
Technical director: Mukhtaris
Commercial director: Alan McIntyre
Human capital and corporate services director: Dina Sandri Fani
Transformation director: Neil Raymond Mills
Board of commissioners after the extraordinary general meeting
President commissioner: Glenny H. Kairupan
Commissioner: Sugito Anjasmoro
Commissioner: Chairal Tanjung
Independent commissioner: Mawardi Yahya
Independent commissioner: Jaan Albrecht
Independent commissioner: Trey Urbahn