Peter Foster, who led Air Astana for nearly two decades, has stepped down early as independent director and board member of cargo carrier Alatau Air Cargo, majority-controlled by structures linked to businessman Timur Turlov.
Foster was elected as an independent director of Alatau Air Cargo on 22 May 2026; the decision was to take effect following the joint-stock company's re-registration linked to its rebranding from KTZ Air Cargo to Alatau Air Cargo, a name the company officially adopted on 10 June 2026. Just over two and a half months have passed since Foster's appointment. The reasons for the early termination of his mandate have not been officially disclosed.
Alongside Foster's departure, the mandate of Alatau Air Cargo's acting general director (chairman of the management board), Nurlan Zhakupov, has also ended; he was replaced by Blair Pollock effective 17 August. Pollock previously led Qazaq Air and earlier held senior positions at Visor Capital and Citigroup.
Robert Van De Weg, CEO of Mexican cargo carrier MAS Air, has been appointed as the new independent director and board member of Alatau Air Cargo in Foster's place, for a term running through May 2028.
Foster himself stepped down as CEO of Air Astana at the end of March 2026, after more than twenty years leading the company, retaining a role as senior advisor to the group's board of directors. He took up the Alatau Air Cargo position less than two months after that.
Alatau Air Cargo is a national cargo carrier positioned to become part of a developing cargo hub in Karaganda and strengthen Kazakhstan's position on Europe–Asia trade routes. The company is controlled by structures linked to Timur Turlov together with national railway operator KTZ.