Head of Romanian national airline Tarom resigns

BUCHAREST, Romania

The government says the general manager of Romania's national airline has resigned after the International Monetary Fund put it on a list of companies holding back the country's economic recovery.

The Transportation Ministry said Ruxandra Brutaru had quit Tarom for "personal reasons," and her resignation would become effective on April 1 when a new manager will be appointed. Brutaru took over the position in Dec. 2008.

In February, the IMF said the airline would be added to a list of loss-making companies monitored by the fund. The companies' debts are putting a brake on economic recovery said Jeffery Franks, who heads the IMF mission to Romania.

Officially, Tarom had profits of$15 million (euro10.8 million) in 2010.