Scandinavian Airlines has announced that Lars Mydland is resigning as the company's accountable manager and as head for Scandinavian Operations Management (SOM).

Lars Mydland has been the manager of SOM since 2001 and came to SOM from a position as president of the SAS Flight Academy AB, a company statement said.

Deputy CEO John Dueholm, responsible for the Scandinavian Airlines business area, will assume responsibility as accountable manager for Scandinavian Airlines with effect from today, August 17.

"We have gone through a long, important and demanding period in recent years to guarantee SAS's future. We are now starting an equally important period with Strategy 2011. I feel that this is the right time for me to take on other challenges. After consultation with Mats Jansson [president and CEO], I have therefore decided to resign from my position effective on August 17," said Mr Mydland.

Said Mr Jansson: "I wish to thank Lars Mydland for his valuable contributions to the SAS group, particularly in the area of flight safety in our operational organisation, but also in building up SAS Flight Academy to a leading-edge company in the area of training for flight personnel."

Tomas Linden, ground operations chief within SOM, has been appointed acting head of operations management, the airline added.