This is the profile of Glenny Kairupan, the new CEO of Garuda Indonesia

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Glenny H. Kairupan officially took over as President Director (Director) of PT Garuda Indonesia on Wednesday, replacing Wamildan Tsani who has been serving since November 2024.

This was decided by the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Garuda Indonesia (EGMS) which was held at the Garuda Management Building Auditorium, Cengkareng, Jakarta.

In the agenda of changes at the top of the Company, Thomas Sugiarto Oentoro was also appointed Deputy General Manager, Frans Dicky Tamara Commissioner; as well as two foreign directors, namely Balagopal Kunduvara as Director of Finance and Risk Management and Neil Raymond Nills as Director of Transformation.

It was stated that the agenda for changing the composition of management is part of the Company’s strategic measures to strengthen the restructuring process. Meanwhile, in 2024, Glenny Kairupan will already hold the position of Commissioner of Garuda Indonesia.

Glenny Kairupan Profile

Glenny is a retired TNI officer born on 11 February 1949 in Manado, North Sulawesi. As a retired TNI officer, he has been friends with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto since he was a cadet at the Indonesian Armed Forces Academy (AKABRI) in 1970.

Prabowo described Glenny as someone with a strong, athletic physique, as well as courageous and patriotic. He is also said to be a cheerful and fun person.

The man who is familiarly called Glen grew up in Jakarta. Glenny graduated from the ground branch of the Indonesian Military Academy in 1973. He showed interest in the world of aviation, so he attended aviation training at the Indonesian Aviation College (STPI) Curug Banten in 1975.

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He then began his military career as a pilot in the Army Aviation Corps (Penerbad). He also participated in various international training with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii in 1980, and was assigned to the Philippines in 1987.

His career skyrocketed until he held a series of important positions, including deputy commander of Korem (Wadanrem) in East Timor; Commander Korem (Danrem) in Salatiga, Central Java; Intelligence Assistant for the 1st Infantry Division in Kostrad; and commander of Kostrad Intel (Danden Intel).

It is known that in 1995 Glenny moved to the ABRI Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) and attended intelligence training. He then received the position of Assistant Defense Attaché of the Republic of Indonesia in the Philippines.

From 1997-1999, Glenny was assigned to the Army Territorial Staff position with the rank of Colonel, until serving as an intelligence staff at the Security Enforcement Agency and Legal System in the Department of Defense and Security.

He also served as Security Advisor to the East Timor Opinion Committee (P3TT) task force for the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) in 1999, when he already held the rank of Brigadier General.

After retiring in 2004, Glenny then received an honorary promotion from President Prabowo Subianto in August 2025, from major general to lieutenant general (honorary) for his services in the East Timor operation.

Regarding politics, he was the Chairman of the Regional Leadership Council (DPD) of the North Sulawesi Gerindra Party since the party was founded until 2016. Regarding the 2019 presidential elections, he was the Director of Mobilization in the Prabowo-Sandi National Winning Body (BPN).

It is known that he also ran in a number of electoral events in his country, although luck does not seem to be on his side, including legislative candidacy for the DPR RI in the 2009 elections and the 2014 elections. In addition to that, he ran for the position of deputy governor in the 2015 North Sulawesi regional elections.

In 2024, in addition to being considered Commissioner of Garuda Indonesia, Glenny is also appointed Commissioner of PT Teknologi Militar Indonesia (PT TMI), a company engaged in the procurement of major defense system equipment (alutsista).

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