Charles Szar has been appointed as president of global cargo airline AeroTransCargo (ATC) and will lead the company’s development strategy.
He brings over 30 years of commercial, civil aviation and military aviation/aerospace experience to AeroTransCargo from previous jobs in the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia.
Prior to joining AeroTransCargo, he spent four years as chief executive of aviation solutions provider Sky One in the UAE.
His career experience also spans more than 20 years in the US Air Force and Army as well as that gained during roles with United Technologies and Hilti, and during his near three years as director of customer engagement with TWI, a training and coaching company based in Dubai.
In his new post, he is based in Sharjah, UAE. He will work closely with Air One Aviation, AeroTransCargo’s exclusive GSA.
Since its formation as a charter and leasing cargo airline in 2014, Moldova-based AeroTransCargo has provided international transportation services for shippers, freight forwarders, logistics providers and charter brokers.
In the last 12 months, the airline’s fleet of five Boeing 747-400 freighters have successfully operated more than 2,500 flights carrying more than 122m kilos of cargo.
“I am delighted to welcome Charles to AeroTransCargo. He has an outstanding blend of career experience that will align perfectly with the expertise we already have within ATC. This combination will ensure we continue to deliver the operational quality our customers expect and inspire fresh thinking as we look to grow our commercial operations,” said Guneet Mirchandani, ATC’s chairman.
“With the calibre of the ATC team and our dedicated partners, we have an exciting future ahead of us. Our ambition and ability to grow align perfectly with the new opportunities presented by our customers. The success of our journey hinges on the incredible people we work with,” Szar added.
Global air charter specialists Chapman Freeborn has made two key appointments to lead its music and entertainment vertical team following a major investment in its global network strategy.
Paul Kindred, Senior Business Development Manager – Music & Entertainment, brings more than three decades of experience in developing the music and entertainment businesses including Premier Aviation UK Ltd and Air Partner, as well as 25 years working at major record companies, including 10 years working at Sony Music Entertainment.
He is to lead the team alongside Chloe Phelps, who has been newly appointed Team Leader – Music and Entertainment – with both individuals based out of the company’s London Gatwick Airport headquarters.
“Chapman Freeborn has been chartering aircraft for the music industry since 1973, impressively coordinating major music tours, festivals, and one-off concerts for household names, right from the start,” said Kindred.
“Chapman’s music and entertainment division is supported by experienced teams strategically located in all corners of the globe, that have deep inside knowledge of local and regional markets and are therefore able to offer better, more tailored solutions to clients, no matter their need or location.”
Meanwhile, Phelps originally joined Chapman Freeborn in 2018 as part of the Tour Support Team. Her reassignment means she will be managing chartering services for music tours as well as nurturing and strengthening client relationships.
“Chapman Freeborn has an extensive global network which allows us to offer a bespoke, on-demand service for clients no matter the requirements and despite it being such a high-pressured, high-profile, fast-paced industry,” said Phelps.
“Central to my role will be looking out for promising up-and-coming artists, thereby ensuring our client roster stays ahead of the curve as our music and entertainment vertical plays an even bigger role to our ongoing global growth strategy.”
Chapman Freeborn has made several appointments throughout the European Union to strengthen its presence on the ground to meet the increasing number of live events since the music and entertainment industry recovers post-COVID.
US Part 135 cargo airline Ameriflight has appointed Patrick Fluegeman as president and chief operating officer.
Fluegeman will be responsible for planning and executing current and future business operation strategies focusing on the regional express airfreight market.
Most recently, he spent seven years with ABX Air, a US cargo airline operating a fleet of Boeing 767 freighters for customers in the e-commerce and express delivery markets. He held a number of operation leadership roles, ending his time there as chief operating officer.
Notably, he successfully added aircraft to ABX Air’s fleet, expanded the company’s operations in Europe and South America, implemented new operating systems, and secured a new six-year collective bargaining agreement with the ABX pilot group.
Prior to his time at ABX, he held a number of finance leadership roles with the cargo airline Southern Air (now part of Atlas Air) and with the financial services firm Deloitte.
“The board and I are confident that Patrick will be a great fit for building on Ameriflight’s momentum,” said Ameriflight owner and chairman Jim Martell.
“He is a well-established leader with an extensive background in the aviation industry that includes a unique blend of airline operations, corporate strategy, finance, and business development. We are pleased to have him on board.”
“It’s a tremendous opportunity to join such a long-standing, industry-leading company,” said Fluegeman. “As I have gotten to know the team, it has become clear to me that Ameriflight operates with purpose and is passionate about its mission of Delivering More Than Cargo.
“As President, my intention is to continue Ameriflight’s vision and its commitment to building a diversified aviation services platform, by focusing on safety, first and foremost, as well as customer service, new business growth, and our people.”
Cargo iQ has elected a new Board this week, as the organisation prepares to launch two major new initiatives to drive up membership engagement and welcome a new Executive Director next month.
Two Board members are completely new to the post, including Fanny Chan, Head of Cargo Global Operations at Cathay Pacific Airways; and Olaf Hagelstein, SVP, Global Head of Operations, Processes & Systems – Air Freight, DHL Global Forwarding.
They join Hendrik Leyssens, VP Process, Planning and Project Delivery, Emirates; Jussi Lemola, Vice President, Global Operations – Cargo, Swissport; Rutger-Jan Pegels (RJ), Director Performance Management, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo; and Klaas Kurz, Director Aviation Security & Governance, Schenker AG, who were all re-elected to their posts. Pegels also serves as Vice Chair of Cargo iQ.
“These individuals bring with them a wealth of knowledge and valuable expertise that will help steer and advise our organisation during a year of exciting changes,” said Lothar Moehle, outgoing Cargo iQ Executive Director.
“Their appointments come as we prepare to launch two major initiatives that will result in enhanced cooperation and collaboration across the air cargo chain, and with our new Executive Director Marie Seco-Köppen driving implementation.”
The new Board was formally welcomed to their new posts at Cargo iQ’s Working Group meeting, which is taking place this week in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Cargo iQ Board is made up of 11 voting members, including representatives from Air France KLM Martinair, Cargomind (Austria), Cathay Pacific, DB Schenker, DHL Global Forwarding, Emirates SkyCargo, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Kuehne+Nagel, Lufthansa Cargo, Qatar Airways Cargo and Swissport International, supported by observers Riege Software, FIATA, and ASA, and advisor Im3Pact AG.
Marie Seco-Köppen, co-founder of Im3pact and currently Chair of the Cargo iQ Master Operating Plan (MOP) Working Group, is to replace Lothar Moehle as Cargo iQ Executive Director in May.
The new initiatives Cargo iQ plans to roll out include a Tiered Membership program that awards members Bronze, Silver, or Gold membership, according to their level of implementation and their conformance to reporting.
A new scorecard system is also to launch, which will be open to both members and non-members alike, enabling them to measure their own, and their partners’ performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) derived from Master Operating Plan (MOP) milestones and data exchange between parties.
Both initiatives are currently being piloted by the Cargo iQ Board and are expected to go live later this year.
Cargo iQ has over 60 members and is a collaborative, multi-stakeholder, supply-chain community that continuously improves the air cargo customer experience.
DB Schenker has appointed Aaron Scott as chief executive of its UK & Ireland business, replacing Ray Hennessy who is retiring after eight years in the role.
Scott joined the company in 2021 and additionally holds the position of executive vice president of contract logistics for region Europe.
“He brings a wealth of experience to the UK & Ireland chief executive role having spent more than 28 years in International Logistics and 3PL supply chain operations,” the forwarder said.
“Additionally, he has spent time living and working in the Netherlands, the US and Germany and has a strong track record of accomplishment in leading and directing operational and cross-functional teams to deliver commercial value and service excellence alongside new business growth.”
“I’m committed to ensuring a seamless transition and continuing the strong culture of passion, energy, and the customer-centric focus that exists across the cluster,” said Scott. “We have a team of great people in our business and it’s important that we remain focused on taking our customers further by delivering the highest standards of quality and service.
“We have been working hard to modernise practices and ensure our business is fit for the future, to fully support current and future customer needs.”
Scott reports to Helmut Schweighofer, chief executive of region Europe.
Global aviation services group and charter specialist Air Partner has appointed Oliver Giesen as head of onboard courier (OBC) – global.
Giesen will be responsible for identifying opportunities to drive the growth of Air Partner’s OBC division, focusing on the aerospace, automotive, fashion and pharmaceutical industries.
He will be based in his home country of Germany, which is a prominent manufacturing hub in Europe and conveniently located for US- and Asia-bound delivery services.
Giesen’s appointment is part of Air Partner’s investment in the growth of OBC delivery to enhance its time-critical services.
Pierre Van Der Stichele, vice president of global charter, said: “There are huge untapped opportunities for OBC services to fulfil, from high net-worth individuals and fashion houses to financial institutions and car manufacturers.
“Door-to-door OBC services are of growing importance to those for whom safe and urgent delivery, by hand, of items is critical, such as sensitive documents, parts for cars to meet manufacturing deadlines, and last-minute additions to the catwalk at global fashion shows.
“Oliver brings a wealth of industry experience to Air Partner with an extensive background spanning logistics, supply chain visibility and operations. With over a decade’s experience in roles at NEO Air Charter GmbH and Chapman Freeborn Airchartering, Oliver refined his expertise in logistics operations and business development. After delving into supply chain visibility for over two years, Oliver now returns to logistics, leading Air Partner’s OBC division.”
The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has appointed six new members to its board of directors.
These board members include Jannie Davel, senior vice president of MSC Air Cargo; Martin Drew, chief strategy and transformation officer at Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings; and Avianca Cargo senior vice president Diogo Elias.
Also joining are Dirk Goovaerts, chief executive of Continental Europe, Middle East and Africa at Swissport International; Boon Kiam Kuah, senior vice president, cargo services at SATS; and UPS director of industry affairs Nichole Schulz.
TIACA director general Glyn Hughes said the new board members are joining at a busy time for the organisation.
“2024 is a critical year for TIACA and having strong leadership in place is vital to the association as we continue to grow and invest in programs that support the industry such as BlueSky, Invest in Climate Action and the Air Cargo Training Library,” he said.
“The team is also actively planning for the latest edition of Air Cargo Forum, November 11-14 in Miami which is expected to draw 4,000-5,000.
“Additionally, the Board has tasked the Secretariat to continue to expand other TIACA programmes that tackle industry challenges through a united voice to enhance a safe, efficient and robust air cargo industry, designed to meet the needs of today whilst anticipating the needs of tomorrow.”
The association added that it currently has a full board seat allocation with one vacancy as it has reserved a seat for a representative of the shipper community, but additional seats may become available as current board terms end.
In February, TIACA launched a ‘Climate Action Platform’ carbon-offsetting programme to help smaller companies invest in reducing their impact on the climate.
ULD management specialist Jettainer has appointed Gert Pfeifer as general manager Europe, effective April 1.
Pfeifer joined Jettainer 15 years ago and has held a variety of leadership roles in IT and operations. Most recently, he held the position of head of operational excellence supply chain and was responsible for areas including fleet management, ULD engineering, the repair and maintenance processes and new customer integration.
He also played a key role in the development of digital twins, virtual images of real ULDs, to identify any additional potential for improvement from the very first to the final use of containers and pallets.
Pfeifer’s new responsibilities include developing and implementing a regional sales and operations strategy for Europe to enhance and ensure the market always driven and reliable ULD management service.
He and his teams will handle all aspects of customer relations in the region, including sales, operations, and customer service, reinforcing Jettainer’s dedication to excellence in serving its customers.
“Our new structure is designed to reflect the specific customer needs and market situations in the various regions. It brings us closer to our customers, which subsequently benefits our entire global customer network,” said Thomas Sonntag, Jettainer’s chief executive.
“Thanks to his many years with the company, particularly as Head of Operational Excellence Supply Chain, Dr Gert Pfeifer has in-depth knowledge of the ULD market and our customers’ requirements and has all the skills needed to drive Jettainer’s growth in Europe.”
This position is part and parcel of Jettainer’s strategic reorganisation in order to respond optimally to regional market trends and needs.
Last month, Jettainer appointed its chief sales officer Thorsten Riekert as chief commercial officer.
DHL eCommerce has appointed Stuart Hill as UK CEO. Hill will lead the company through the next growth phase and oversee the opening of the company’s second hub in Coventry later this year. He takes over from Peter Fuller, who is retiring after three decades in the industry.
Hill will report to Pablo Ciano, Global CEO of DHL eCommerce: “We’re excited to have Stuart lead the UK operation as we ramp up for significant growth through the opening of our second hub.
Stuart has a deep understanding of the eCommerce landscape, and the retailer perspective he brings will be invaluable in ensuring we hone our offering to the specific needs of our customers.”3
Bringing significant eCommerce experience to the role, Hill has spent over two decades in retail logistics. Most recently, he was the COO at luxury fashion site Matches Fashion UK and has held senior operational roles with retailers including John Lewis, ASOS and Farfetch. In 2012, he co-founded an international delivery and returns company, wnDirect.
Hill says: “Drawing on over two decades as a loyal DHL customer, I am honoured to now contribute from within and continue the great work at DHL eCommerce UK. I look forward to re-engaging with the world of parcel delivery in a company recognised for its unparalleled breadth and scale as we forge ahead with expansion.”
Peter Fuller is retiring after seven years as CEO. During this time, he managed the integration of UK Mail into DHL and re-established the DHL brand as a primary domestic carrier in the UK.
Pablo Ciano continues: “Peter has been instrumental in establishing DHL eCommerce as a domestic powerhouse in the UK. He led a highly successful integration following the acquisition of UK Mail and established a whole new branch of the DHL family in the UK. Since then, he has put the business on a strong footing for future growth. We wish him the very best for his retirement.”
Jettainer, the global leader in unit load device (ULD) management, has appointed Thorsten Riekert as Chief Commercial Officer. In this newly created position, the distinguished Jettainer management team member with in-depth aviation industry knowledge will be responsible for Jettainer’s commercial strategy to advance the company’s global growth trajectory.
The appointment of Thorsten Riekert to Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) is integral to Jettainer’s strategic reorganisation. This new organisation emphasises the company’s commitment to customer centricity, future readiness and market leadership. The first measure was to set up a structure with General Managers to facilitate direct customer relationships in the regions, respond to their specific needs and oversee sales and operational activities.
General Managers in the Americas and the Middle East & Africa region have already been established, and APAC and Europe are set to follow. The new CCO setup with Riekert in charge will further enhance Jettainer’s operational efficiency and ensure that regional activities align closely with the company’s commercial strategy.
In addition, Riekert will continue to drive the development of Jettainer’s flagship ULD management solution, “ULD Select”. “Thorsten Riekert has played a central role in Jettainer’s management team, demonstrating outstanding commitment and profound aviation and market knowledge”, remarked Thomas Sonntag, CEO of Jettainer.
“His contributions have significantly enriched our global network and product portfolio. In his new role as CCO, his expertise will be of high value as we continue to expand our presence and strengthen our market position.”
Thorsten Riekert joined Jettainer in 2015. In his time with the company, he played a pivotal role in expanding Jettainer’s extensive customer network and product offering of market leading ULD management solutions. Before joining Jettainer, he held various impactful positions within the Lufthansa Group, where he strengthened his skills and expertise in sales and management.
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