Asiana Airlines on Sunday named Akiyoshi Yamamura, a former safety specialist at Japan’s ANA, as vice president to lead the company’s recently revamped safety team following a fatal crash in San Francisco on July 6.

The 65-year-old Yamamura studied mechanical engineering at Meiji University in Tokyo and joined ANA in 1972. He served in several positions overseeing safety measures at the Japanese airline. Most recently he also worked as a safety inspector for the International Air Transport Association.

“I will focus more on figuring out risk factors that can happen within the aviation industry and coming up with preventive measures,” he said in a statement.

Adding to his expertise in safety, Asiana said, recommendations from ANA, a member of Star Alliance, had played a key role in the company deciding on the new appointment.

As part of efforts to strengthen safety measures after the June crash landing, Asiana elevated its safety division into a separate team. The new safety chief will start working from Dec. 1, the company said.

(jylee@heraldcorp.com)