18-10-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Tony Fernandes, the dynamic CEO of AirAsia, is known for his unconventional approach to business and life, but a recent social media post crossed a line for some of his LinkedIn followers.
The controversy erupted after Fernandes posted a photo of himself shirtless while receiving a massage at an office conference table during a management meeting. In the now-deleted post on his LinkedIn page, Fernandes commented, “Got to love Indonesia and AirAsia culture that I can have a massage and do a management meeting,” explaining that a female colleague had suggested the massage after what he described as a stressful week.
This post generated a significant public backlash, with many commenters deeming it inappropriate for a top executive to engage in personal care activities in a professional setting, especially when purportedly running a company. Among the critics was Rebecca Nadillo, a strategy and branding executive with experience at Meta and ad agency BBDO. She expressed concerns that women in the company might not feel comfortable or safe in such a context, especially when the CEO is involved, and they might be hesitant to challenge or speak out.
Approximately 100 responses, with many echoing Nadillo’s sentiments, urged Fernandes to address what they considered a personal misstep. In response, Fernandes explained that he had just endured an 18-hour flight and was experiencing physical discomfort, and the massage was a spontaneous suggestion by a member of the Indonesia operation. He expressed that he didn’t intend to offend anyone and deleted the post.
Some readers responded to the situation with humor, while others praised Fernandes for his courage to publicly display his bare chest, considering it a positive step for the body positivity movement.
