The US Cargo Airline Association (CAA) has appointed Lauren Beyer as president, succeeding Steve Alterman who has led the organization for more than 40 years.
As president of the CAA, Beyer will lead advocacy and inform policymakers, regulators and others on the importance and operational realities of the air cargo supply chain.
Beyer previously served as the vice president of security and facilitation at Airlines for America, where she represented the largest US passenger and cargo airlines to the federal government on all security, cybersecurity, cargo, and passenger facilitation issues.
Prior to that, she was the director of aviation and surface transportation security at The National Security Council.
Beyer said: “The air cargo industry is indispensable to the modern world, and it is an honor to bring my government and industry experience to bear on behalf of CAA’s members. I look forward to fostering an environment where air cargo can continue to grow and drive the global economy.”
The organization paid tribute to Alterman: “On behalf of the Cargo Airline Association, I would like to thank Steve Alterman for his dedicated advocacy efforts over the past four decades,” said John Maxwell, general counsel Americas for FedEx Express and chairman of the CAA board of directors.
“Through Steve’s leadership, we have been able to build and advance the U.S. air cargo industry, creating expansive global supply chains that connect the US and global economy.
“Looking forward, I’m pleased to have Lauren Beyer joining us as CAA’s next president. Lauren’s impressive portfolio of government and industry experience, in the US and internationally, makes her ideally suited to lead CAA as it informs and shapes policies necessary to protect and grow this critical sector of the US economy.”
IAG Cargo has appointed Jordan Kohlbeck as head of pharmaceutical following the opening of its New Premia facility at Heathrow.
Kohlbeck has worked for the cargo business for more than three years, holding roles related to the firm’s constant climate product and transformation.
In the new role, he will oversee IAG’s temperature control pharmaceutical product.
“He will set the vision and strategic direction of its pharmaceutical and life sciences division,” IAG Cargo said in a press release. “Jordan will ensure the delivery of outstanding solutions and continuous advancement of the product experience for customers.”
Kohlbeck assumed his new position shortly after IAG Cargo opened its new cargo handling facility, New Premia, which features a Constant Climate Quality Centre (CCQC) with 27 cool cells for pharmaceuticals.
John Cheetham, chief commercial officer at IAG Cargo, said: “With Jordan’s leadership and understanding of the pharmaceutical landscape, we are confident in our ability to provide innovative solutions, and further strengthen our commitment to the global healthcare industry.”
Kohlbeck added: “I am excited to continue my work in supporting transformation at IAG Cargo and providing an important service for the pharmaceutical industry as a trusted partner in their supply chains.
“With this new responsibility, I look forward to working with our customers, suppliers, and team, ensuring we are relentless at delivering an exceptional customer experience and temperature control offering, befitting of any market leader.”
Atlas Air has promoted Richard Broekman to executive vice president, chief commercial officer and head of sustainability.
In his new role, Broekman will be responsible for the development and execution of Atlas Air’s global commercial strategies, and the management of the corporate sales strategy for ACMI, CMI and charter services.
Additionally, Broekman will also assume an expanded role as head of sustainability to drive the company’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
In this capacity, he will lead development of Atlas’ decarburization strategies, which include partnering with its customers to implement sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and carbon offsetting initiatives.
Broekman succeeded Michael Steen, who became president and chief executive of Atlas Air Worldwide on June 15.
Since joining Atlas in 2004 as a flight and revenue analyst, Broekman has served in roles with increasing responsibility.
He joined the commercial team in 2008 and has served as senior director of commercial development and revenue management, and vice president, commercial development and charter sales.
In 2018, he was named senior vice president, global sales and commercial development.
“Richard brings a strong personal commitment to our company’s mission to be our customers’ first choice and most valued partner,” said Steen. “He is well-respected across the air cargo industry and brings extensive expertise across many facets of the business.
“Under his strong leadership, we look forward to continuing to serve our blue-chip roster of customers with the world class performance that defines Atlas.”
“I am very proud of the role we serve in the global supply chain, and am excited for the opportunity to build on our position as one of the world’s largest freighter operators,” said Broekman.
“It is a great honor to lead this team as we partner with our customers to help them achieve their business goals and deliver on our shared commitments to sustainability and corporate citizenship.”
Singapore-based aviation services company SATS, the owner of Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), has streamlined its organizational structure and made new executive appointments.
SATS, which acquired WFS in April, will adopt a global model for operating and managing its gateway services business lines, with three business leaders and industry veterans helming their respective regions.
Bob Chi, chief executive, Gateway Services, SATS, will lead the Singapore hub and all SATS Gateway Services’ subsidiaries and associates within Asia and the Middle East, including WFS businesses in Hong Kong and Singapore.
John Batten, chief executive EMEAA WFS, will lead all WFS operations in Europe, Africa, Thailand, and India.
And Mike Simpson, chief executive Americas WFS, will continue to oversee all WFS operations in the US, Canada, and Brazil.
SATS has also made a number of other appointments to strengthen operations.
SATS president and chief executive Kerry Mok said: “The changes in the organizational structure and leadership is an expression of SATS’ transition into a global company. This will facilitate management alignment, enhance coordination, and leverage the Group’s combined capabilities across the globe.
“This will help us to accelerate our delivery on commercial and operational excellence synergies and better serve our customers.”
Effective immediately, Ian Morgan has joined ECS Group’s as its new Group Commercial Director for the USA. This key recruitment marks the beginning of a promising collaboration between two high profile actors of the air freight industry.
The appointment of Ian Morgan, previously Qatar Airways Cargo’s Vice President Cargo for the Americas, fits perfectly with ECS Group’s ongoing development and plan to create a position of Group Commercial Director for the USA.
“Our wish was to benefit from the support of someone who would not only have a solid cargo experience but who would also share the values of our group. Ian was the ideal candidate,” states Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group. Having gained considerable airfreight expertise in the USA while working as a manager for the biggest companies, Ian joins ECS Group with a substantial network and a great ability to meet the requirements of the GSSA’s customers, thanks to his strong airline background.
As ECS Group’s Group Commercial Director for the USA, Ian’s role will entail a wide range of commercial responsibilities. From ensuring the Group’s commercial performance to managing the interface with USA based customers with high growth potential, the position will also involve contributing to the Group’s business development.
This new role is essential as ECS Group has great expectations for the USA. With a number of contracts on the increase in terms of capacity, the American market is highly strategic for the GSSA.
“The opportunity to join the premium GSSA in the business, and to work for two people I respect immensely, was something that professionally I knew was the right step in my career. I look forward to collaborating with the ECS team to further develop and enhance the excellent brand and reputation that ECS has globally as well as regionally,“ says Ian Morgan, ECS Group’s Group Commercial Director, USA.
As part of a strategy to enhance engagement and further raise its profile with its members, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) has appointed Denise Hill as member engagement director.
With a strong background in commercial and relationship management, Hill will oversee and develop BIFA’s interaction with its membership in regards to the services it provides and how they are delivered.
For much of the past decade, Hill has worked for DHL Global Forwarding and was involved in Customs brokerage account management and related activities, building strong relationships to progress account growth for multinational clients.
Most recently, she set up and implemented a new team to manage Brexit-related Customs activities for the company’s clients from the automotive sector.
Hill is a graduate with a degree in European Business Studies and completed an MBA in 2015.
“The newly created role is designed to strengthen and support our engagement with our members; and ensure that their views reach all areas of the association; and are reflected in the work undertaken by the secretariat,” Steve Parker, BIFA Director General said.
“Denise comes to us with extensive customer engagement skills, and I am confident that she has the ability to engage with our members to get a better understanding of how BIFA can fulfil their requirements.
“The appointment is part of broader strengthening of BIFA’s regional representation across the UK, which is currently administered by a team of long-standing regional representatives and consultants.”
The Seahorse Freight Association, a not-for-profit organisation championing career and networking opportunities for journalists in supply chain and transport, has welcomed PressianaNaydenova, Corporate Communications Manager at Associated British Ports (ABP), to its committee.
As a Board Member on the committee Pressiana will help raise awareness around the rewarding careers available in trade journalism and the important work done by the organisation to recognise media excellence, including its annual Seahorse Journalism Awards, which will launch shortly.
“I am really excited to join this organisation, which has a vital role to play in promoting careers in trade journalism, as well as nurturing journalists’ skills in interpreting what are often complex concepts and conveying them to the public in an accessible way,” said Pressiana.
“Promoting and recognising those who tell the stories of our great maritime sector is an important mission, which I look forward to helping deliver.”
In her current role at ABP, which is the UK’s leading ports group, Pressiana delivers integrated communications strategies and oversees branding and planning of company events such as the “Women in Maritime Charter” launch in 2017, organised in partnership with WISTA UK, and ABP’s sustainability strategy launch, Ready for Tomorrow, in February 2023.
Prior to joining ABP, she held a number of communications and marketing roles in the charity and private sectors.
The Seahorse Freight Association, which was formed in 1962, brings companies in the supply chain, logistics, and transport industry together with the media who report on them and the public relations and marketing professionals who work in the sector.
Seahorse organises an annual awards competition to celebrate excellence in reporting, which is open to all journalists globally that write about the industry.
“Seahorse is focused on celebrating and rewarding excellence in reporting in our industry and shining a light on the fantastic career opportunities in journalism in our sector,” said Emma Murray, Seahorse Chair and CEO and Founder of Meantime Communications.
“Pressiana’s experience and energy are a fantastic addition to our team, and we look forward to working with her as we continue to champion diversity and encourage the next generation of writers.”
Seahorse’s next event will be a summer party, with details announced shortly.
Accelya, a leading global provider of technology solutions to the travel industry, has appointed former AWS and Microsoft executive Tom Erskine as its new Chief Marketing Officer.
Based in London, Tom will oversee the planning, development, and execution of Accelya’s marketing initiatives globally. He will report into Chief Revenue Officer Andrew Wilcock and will ensure the company remains inherently customer-centric and pro-airline in its approach, while further growing the culture of innovation within Accelya.
With two decades of experience in the software and technology sectors, Tom joins directly from cloud web hosting company Cloudways, now part of DigitalOcean, where he was Chief Marketing Officer. Prior to that, Tom held senior roles at Microsoft and at Amazon Web Services (AWS), most recently as AWS’s Head of Enterprise Marketing for the EMEA region.
“This is a truly exciting time for airlines, I’m so proud to be joining an organization at the forefront of accelerating the digital transformation for the industry,” commented Tom Erskine, Chief Marketing Officer at Accelya. “I look forward to driving further growth for Accelya by listening closely to our customers, fostering a culture of innovation and experimentation, and continuing to make Accelya a great place to work for our international team of marketers.”
“Tom’s exceptional experience in the software industry, in particular his years at AWS, will be invaluable in driving Accelya’s customer centricity and unlocking innovation across the company,” added Sam Gilliland, Chief Executive Officer at Accelya. “He will be a tremendous asset to our leadership team, bringing a fresh perspective, strong international experience, and a track record for really striving to understand customers’ needs and motivations.”
Recife, Brazil—dnata, a leading global air and travel services provider, announced the promotion of Phil McGrane to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), dnata Brazil with immediate effect. In his new role, Phil will lead dnata’s overall strategy and business, driving the company’s growth and success across the country.
Phil has been with dnata for over 10 years. Since last July, he has overseen dnata Brazil’s operations at 29 airports as Acting CEO, managing a team of 5,000 local aviation professionals. In his previous position as Chief Commercial Officer, he was responsible for leading all of the company’s commercial activities, including business development and customer relations.
Phil has over 30 years’ experience in the aviation and transport industries. Prior to joining dnata he held various senior roles, supporting the commercial operations and growth of globally renowned companies in the Middle East, USA and Europe.
David Barker, Divisional Senior Vice President, Airport Operations, said: “Phil has made a significant contribution to dnata’s business in Brazil over the past decade. His strong leadership skills, commercial mindset and customer-centric approach make him the right person to lead the company through its next phase of growth in the country.
“Phil’s appointment is a reflection of our commitment to promoting from within and recognising the contributions and achievements of our high-performing colleagues.”
In recent years dnata has significantly expanded its footprint in Brazil. It currently operates at 29 airports in the country, serving more than 15 airlines. In 2022, dnata acquired the remaining 30% stake to assume full ownership of dnata Brazil and has further plans to enhance its operations across South America.
As one of the world’s largest air and travel services providers, dnata offers ground handling, cargo, travel and catering & retail services at over 130 airports in more than 30 countries across six continents.
London Gatwick, UK—ChapmanFreeborn, the global air charter specialist and part of Avia Solutions Group, has appointed Claire Geary as Group Marketing Director, a new position within the company.
Claire joins the business following two years as Marketing Director EMEA with Cirium, prior to which she held marketing management positions at South African Airways in Africa, and was Manager of Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand at Emirates Airline, based in the Middle East.
Drawing upon her wealth of aviation marketing experience, Claire will lead the Marketing Team with a focus on brand, marketing communications, PR and events. She will work closely with the ChapmanFreeborn Executive Committee, Regional Presidents and parent company, Avia Solutions Group, to design, formulate and implement a marketing strategy that drives revenue.
“I am excited to have joined ChapmanFreeborn in this new role and am very much looking forward to working with the team, being a part of the business, and taking the company towards new heights. It’s a fantastic opportunity to use my marketing expertise and strong aviation background in a well-respected company within the global aviation industry,” says Claire who is reporting to Neil Dursley, Group CCO.
Scott Collier, meanwhile, has been named as the company’s President – ACMI Leasing to lead the newly-formed global ACMI department.
Scott brings almost three decades of extensive industry experience to ChapmanFreeborn from across all areas of the industry, from airline operations, commercial sectors and tour operating, to running his own successful aircraft leasing company.
His breadth of aviation insight has led to his aptitude for identifying potential opportunities in adversity and navigating the more challenging leasing markets globally.
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