A general director of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), which manages airports countrywide, has drawn questions and criticism after he managed to approve the appointments of as many as 76 subordinates in one day, just before his retirement.

All of the appointment decisions were signed by the ACV chief Le Manh Hung on June 19 and simultaneously took effect on July 1.

Hung is scheduled to retire from his post on July 17.

According to some staff members, the appointments included heads and deputy heads of multiple departments within the corporation.

Hung recently told the media that his decisions were pursuant to a resolution issued by ACV’s Standing Party Committee and board of directors.

It was completely procedural, the general director stated, adding that there was nothing dishonest about the appointments.

Lai Xuan Thanh, chairman of ACV, also defended Hung, asserting that the decisions were completely normal.

Thanh said most of the questionable appointments should have been completed before his predecessor retired in mid-2017.

However, the Ministry of Transport later required that the process be done under the chairmanship of Thanh.

“It took me nearly a year to consolidate the company’s structure and human resources, thus the decisions were not issued until recently,” Thanh elaborated.

All of the new appointments were recommended by the company’s Standing Party Committee and board of directors, before Hung, as general director, approved them, the chairman continued.

This is just part of the procedures, he added.

Deputy Minister of Transport Le Dinh Tho told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that signing the appointment decisions was within Hung’s authority and responsibility.

However, the ministry has requested AVC to make a report of the case as concern has been sparked among the public, Tho stated.

ACV currently manages 22 airports throughout the country.

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