Outspoken Qatar Airways CEO to retire after 27 years

One of the airline industry's most outspoken leaders, Akbar Al Baker, is retiring as chief executive of Qatar Airways after almost three decades at the helm of the state-owned carrier, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Monday and a source. Al Baker will be succeeded by Badr Mohammed Al Meer, currently chief operating officer of Hamad International Airport, the source familiar with the matter said. Al Baker was appointed CEO in 1997, three years after the airline's launch.