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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright October 2023
Oh, Tony Fernandes, attempting to outshine Richard Branson? Please, it's like comparing a rusty tricycle to a sleek Ferrari.
Fernandes' recent bare-chested escapade made him look less like a modern business mogul and more like a character straight out of the Stone Age. I half expected to see Fred Flintstone giving him pointers on how to relax in style.
I mean, if you're going to go shirtless for a photo op, you should at least be able to flex some muscles. Instead, it looked like he was auditioning for the role of "dad bod" poster child.
Branson, with his rockstar background, knows how to be informal and cool. But Fernandes seems to have missed the memo about when and where it's appropriate to ditch the shirt. Perhaps he got lost on the way to the gym.
What's even more cringe-worthy is Fernandes trying to pass it off as “AirAsia culture.”
I'm not sure which part of AirAsia's culture involves shirtless CEOs in board meetings, but I must've missed that memo, too.
Fernandes might want to consider the fact that he's operating in an Asian culture, where such antics are met with more than a few raised eyebrows. Even the world media couldn't resist poking fun at his expense.
Rebecca Nadillo, a branding executive, hit the nail on the head when she pointed out that female employees at AirAsia might not feel comfortable or safe in such a context.
It's a classic case of the emperor parading around in his "magical" clothes, while no one dares to point out the obvious.
The truth is, Tony, when you're the boss, people are less likely to challenge your wardrobe choices. But maybe it's time for a reality check. Your staff might not be as proud of your fashion sense as you think. And who could blame them?
After all, nobody wants to tell the shirtless emperor that he's not really wearing any clothes.
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