Former German vice chancellor in Vietjet board of directors

The 52-year-old, who is ethnically Vietnamese will serve until 2027.

He was earlier an independent director at another airline since 2023, acting as a strategic advisor focusing on expanding international cooperation, particularly with investors and partners in Europe and the Asia-Pacific.

German politician Philipp Rösler at the town hall in Oldenburg (Germany), Aug. 25, 2011. Photo by DPA Picture-Alliance via AFP

Born in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, he was adopted and raised in Germany.

He was a military doctor before switching to a career in politics.

In 2009 he was appointed Germany’s Minister of Health, and two years later became vice chancellor while also serving as Minister of Economics and Technology and Minister of Health.

He quit politics in 2014 and has since held key positions at large German corporations like Siemens, Deutsche Bank and Lufthansa.

Vietjet also announced the removal of Donal Boylan, Luu Duc Khanh, Chu Viet Cuong, and Nguyen Thanh Hung as directors since they will become members of its founding council.

The airline’s chairwoman and the richest woman in Vietnam, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, announced plans at its annual general meeting last week to add new destinations and to double its wide-body aircraft fleet to 40 in a deal signed with Airbus.