The German, who also ran Ireland’s Aer Lingus and former Belgian flag carrier Sabena, starts on Sept 20 as chief digital and innovation officer, according to a Bloomberg report.

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Emirates employees were informed of Mueller’s imminent arrival in a communication this week, Bloomberg said.

Mueller, who turns 55 in December, was hired by Malaysia Airlines in March 2015 after its reputation and sales were hit by two aircraft losses the previous year.

His strategy halted losses by recasting Kuala Lumpur as a hub for Asian rather than global travel, while cutting 6,000 jobs and shrinking capacity by almost one-third, said Bloomberg.

Despite his successes, Mueller announced in April that he was leaving Malaysia Airlines, citing unspecified personal reasons beyond his control.

He agreed to serve a six-month notice period that was due to end this month, but stood down earlier after the carrier announced Chief Operating Officer Peter Bellew as his successor at the end of June.

Bloomberg said Emirates had expanded to become the world’s No 1 long-haul airline after exploiting Dubai’s position which is at crossroads between Europe and the Americas and Asia, the Middle East and Africa to siphon off lucrative transfer traffic.

Still, Bloomberg said, annual sales fell for the first time in a decade in the year through March.