Zürich, Switzerland— dnata, a leading global air and travel services provider, announced the appointment of Willy Ruf as the company’s Managing Director for Switzerland.
Ruf will oversee dnata’s ground handling and cargo business and operations at Geneva Airport (GVA) and Zürich Airport (ZRH) in Switzerland. He will manage a team of 1,100 employees, ensuring world-class services and safety for over 30 airline customers.
A Swiss national, Ruf has over 30 years of international experience in the ground handling, cargo and travel industries. Most recently, he has been dnata’s Head of Operations in Geneva. Prior to joining dnata, he held various senior leadership roles at Wisag and Swissport across Europe.
He will report to Stewart Angus, dnata’s Regional CEO for Europe. His appointment is effective 1 January 2024. In his new role Willy will replace Roberto Feijoo Lopez, who decided to leave dnata to pursue another opportunity.
“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Willy, who has demonstrated exceptional management skills and steadfast commitment to excellence as our operations leader in Geneva. As a respected and experienced leader in our industry, he is well-equipped to contribute significantly to our strategic objectives and strengthen dnata’s market presence in Switzerland,” said Angus.
In the financial year 2022-23, dnata’s team assisted a total of seven million passengers and moved over 60,000 tons of cargo in Geneva and Zürich.
dnata is a leading global air and travel services provider. It offers quality and safe ground handling, cargo, travel, catering, and retail services in over 30 countries across six continents.
Dublin, Ireland— MAAS Aviation, a globally recognized expert in aircraft painting and exterior coatings, has named experienced industry professional, Andrew Hoad, as Chairman.
Hoad originally joined MAAS in April 2022 in the role of Non-Executive Director, before accepting this latest position last month. A seasoned authority on the aviation sector, Hoad has previously held senior technical positions at prestigious airlines and large MROs. He also currently holds non-executive directorship positions at Aerfin Ltd and TP Aerospace.
Hoad comments, “There are thousands of people involved in the heavy maintenance of aircraft, but there are not many that are solely focused on doing an exceptional job of painting aircraft. It’s the attention to detail and care that our people put into ensuring every livery we paint looks as good as new (if not better!) that makes me proud to be part of MAAS.
“In overall aircraft maintenance spend, repainting is a relatively small piece of the pie, but it’s a very important piece nonetheless” Hoad continues. “Aircraft painting is unquestionably a highly skilled task; hence we are laser focused on ensuring that we continually train and retain the best quality people.”
One of the biggest challenges currently facing the whole MRO sector is the undercapacity to serve the backlog of maintenance that has been building since aircraft took to the skies again post-COVID. Hoad explains how MAAS is positioning itself to best support the industry moving forward.
“We have established plans for continued expansion of our capabilities, both in markets and aircraft platforms that we currently serve, together with some new opportunities. Being close to our customers and flexible to their needs will always be our priority. We’ve also recently made some key appointments, so with good bench strength in our senior team and the implementation of some significant infrastructural enhancements, we are actively and purposefully readying our business for further growth,” he said.
Hoad concludes, “Across the whole business we have ‘can do’ people who work tirelessly to keep every MAAS customer delighted with the work we deliver. I am confident that through our collective efforts, we will see this customer base grow much further. There is an exciting future ahead of us.”
Florida— The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has concluded its Executive Elections for the 2024-2025 term with Steven Polmans re-elected as Chair for another two years.
Following TIACA’s change to the Governance rules, two Vice Chairs were elected—Emir Pineda of Miami International Airport and Roos Bakker of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol will serve as co-Vice Chairs and will also take on the role of Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.
“Receiving the Board of Directors re-appointment is deeply appreciated, and I’m thankful for their unwavering support. Both the industry and our association have a lot on their respective plates and I am dedicated to ensuring that we continue to serve our members and the industry effectively. I eagerly anticipate carrying out the directives set forth by the Board, maintaining a focus on membership, advocacy, partnerships, knowledge, sustainability, and events. Working closely with outgoing Vice Chair Sanjeev Ghadia over the last four years has been a pleasure, and I’m immensely grateful for his tremendous camaraderie and support. I eagerly look forward to collaborating with our new co-Vice Chairs, Emir Pineda and Roos Bakker, as we embark on this journey together,” stated Steven Polmans, the newly re-elected chairman of the organization.
Emir Pineda, Vice-Chair and Treasurer of TIACA, said: “Seeing the progress that TIACA has made over the past several years, I am proud to take on this commitment as Vice Chair. I look forward to working alongside Steven Polmans and Roos Bakker to ensure we are meeting the needs of our membership, and of course, the industry.”
“TIACA has made great strides over the past several years and I am humbled to have been appointed as Vice-Chair for the next two years. TIACA has earned a reputation as the only association that unites all of air cargo. I am excited to get started and continue to push forward with our work,” stated Roos Bakker, Vice Chair and Secretary of TIACA.
Glyn Hughes, Director General of TIACA, said the group’s strategic direction and governance are constantly reviewed to ensure that it is run with the highest standards that benefit its members.
“Association programs are designed to support the industry with key challenges in the areas of sustainability, digitalization, market intelligence, people issues including the need for an inclusive and diverse workforce as well as critical focus on safety, security, innovation, and collaborative partnerships. Collectively the programs are designed to meet the needs of our members, who are the real drivers of this association,” said Hughes.
MALTA— Challenge Group, an international air cargo conglomerate offering tailored end-to-end logistics solutions for complex verticals, announced the appointment of David Canavan as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
In his new role, Canavan will be responsible for leading, planning, directing, coordinating, aligning and overseeing all Group Operations, bringing his extensive experience and expertise to drive operational excellence and contribute to the company’s overall expansion plan and fleet growth.
Canavan comes to Challenge Group with a proven track record of more than 30 years’ international experience in strategic planning, operational efficiency, supply chain management and logistics, having previously led various multinational teams and business units in senior management roles both in Europe and Asia at FedEx.
“We are thrilled to welcome David to our Executive Team,” said Yossi Shoukroun, CEO of the Challenge Group. “His wealth of experience and demonstrated leadership will be instrumental in propelling Challenge Group to new heights. We are confident that he will play a key role in developing and implementing efficient and cost-effective operational processes to meet the current and future growing business needs of the Group to better serve our customers and partners.”
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates—Etihad Engineering, one of the world’s leading providers of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) solutions, has appointed Daniel Hoffmann as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Daniel brings to Etihad Engineering more than 20 years of hands-on experience in the global aviation industry, having led Lufthansa Technik Sofia in Bulgaria as its CEO, and served in executive roles in Lufthansa Technik Base Maintenance facilities in Germany and the Philippines.
His expertise ranges from organisational leadership and change management to standardisation of core business functions and business efficiency through optimum resource utilisation, as well as a successful track record of leading growth projects and negotiating joint venture partnerships.
“We are excited to have Daniel on board with Etihad Engineering as the CEO and I am confident that, with our collective efforts, we will continue to drive our company’s growth and success,” said Abdul Khaliq Saeed, who has moved from the CEO role of Etihad Engineering to the position of Managing Director within the Abu Dhabi Aviation Group structure.
Hoffmann noted: “Etihad Engineering is one of the leading players in the aviation MRO industry, known for its workmanship, professionalism and comprehensive capabilities. I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with its global team drawn from over 50 nationalities and look forward to leading the organisation on our growth journey.”
Etihad Engineering has delivered comprehensive MRO solutions to hundreds of airlines including flag carriers, OEMs, aircraft operators and leasing companies in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and Australia over three decades.
Geneva, Switzerland— Unilode Aviation Solutions, the market leader in outsourced unit load device (ULD) management, repair and digital services, is delighted to announce the appointment of Janis Balkens as Chief Operating Officer.
Balkens has over 20 years’ experience in senior leadership, operational and commercial roles in the aviation industry. He has worked extensively with airports, airlines, ground handlers and logistics companies, and is a highly respected and talented member of the aviation community. He was the Regional Chief Executive Officer for New & Emerging Markets at dnata prior to his move to Unilode.
Ross Marino, Chief Executive Officer, Unilode, said Janis will be an asset to the company saying, “Janis will play a pivotal role in leading Unilode’s operations to new heights and contributing to the continued growth and success of our company. Janis is a highly valued addition to our team, and I am excited to work with him to continue to deliver optimal results for Unilode.”
Balken said he is thrilled to join the company’s global operations. “I look forward to working with the talented Unilode team to build on the company’s successes and continue to elevate our services and partnerships globally. Together, we will provide our customers and partners with mutually beneficial solutions and drive our businesses forward,” he said.
Doha, Qatar—After 27 years of remarkable service, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker is stepping down from his current position effective 05 November 2023.
Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer will succeed Al Baker as Group Chief Executive for Qatar Airways, the Group announced.
Under Al Baker’s leadership, Qatar Airways has grown to become one of the most recognizable and trusted brands globally, synonymous with customer service quality and the highest of standards. The National Carrier of the State of Qatar achieved an unprecedented seven-time winner of the “World Best Airline” award and its state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport, which is under its management and operation, has also been recognised as the World Best Airport.
The Qatar Airways Group’s contribution to helping deliver the best ever FIFA World Cup 2022 showcased to the world its capability, commitment to excellence and its passion for bringing the world together.
Schaumburg, Illinois—SEKO Logistics (SEKO), the leader in end-to-end global logistics, has named Maxime Bessiere as the new Chief Commercial Officer, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). She will take over from long-time leader and one of four founders of SEKO’s UK division, David Emerson who steps down effective December 31.
In his new role, Bessiere will be responsible for driving sales growth, vertical market development, account management, solution design, implementation, corporate marketing communications, strategic tender pricing, sustainability and commercial operations in the EMEA region including the UK and Ireland.
He joined SEKO after nearly five years at Kerry Logistics EMEA, where he served a dual role as commercial director of EMEA and cluster managing director of Sweden, Poland, Belgium, Czech Republic and South Africa. Prior, he spent 11 years at GEODIS in the Asia-Pacific region in a series of positions, his last being as sales and marketing director for China and Hong Kong.
“The global leadership team is thrilled to welcome such a highly recognized leader like Maxime, who brings extensive leadership experience in traditional freight forwarding, contract logistics and ecommerce in EMEA to our team,” said Simon Pinto, President, EMEA.
James Gagne, SEKO’s President & CEO adds, “We are sincerely grateful to David as SEKO would not be where we are today without him. SEKO is excited to see where he embarks on his next journey.”
Under Emerson’s commercial leadership, SEKO expanded beyond its US borders for the first time into the UK in 2003. He and other members of the SEKO leadership team then helped to take the company global over the past 20 years, expanding into Europe, Asia, and across the Americas. With his expertise in ecommerce, he helped establish SEKO as one of the first companies to enter the market in 2011. In 2022, SEKO launched a dedicated e-commerce business unit.
Lauterach, Austria—Wolfgang Niessner, the former long-time Gebrüder Weiss Management Board chairman, was appointed as the new Gebrüder Weiss Supervisory Board chairman at the logistics company’s constituent Supervisory Board meeting on June 19.
Niessner succeeds Dr. Rudolf Christian Stiehl, who has held the position for the last four years. Dr. Stiehl will retire from the Supervisory Board of Gebrüder Weiss, having served a total of 21 years as shareholder representative.
By appointing Wolfgang Niessner as Supervisory Board chairman, Gebrüder Weiss can count on an individual with outstanding leadership credentials, and a long and extremely successful career in the logistics industry.
Niessner, the Gebrüder Weiss CEO since 2005, led the company through an era marked by consistent internationalization and economic success, until he handed over operational management to Wolfram Senger-Weiss at the end of 2018. He was appointed to the Supervisory Board in 2019.
The outgoing Supervisory Board chairman, Dr. Rudolf Christian Stiehl, has made a significant contribution to the success of Gebrüder Weiss during his long tenure, the company said.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has appointed Giridharan Srinivasan to the role of Area General Manager – Indian Subcontinent.
Based in Bangalore, Srinivasan will report directly to Latha Narayan, Etihad Cargo’s Director East Cargo Commercial – APAC, Australasia, and Indian Subcontinent. He will be responsible for establishing new and further developing existing relationships with Etihad Cargo’s customers based in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and the surrounding region.
Srinivasan joins Etihad Cargo with over 17 years of logistics experience, five of which have been within the aviation sector. During his career, he has held leadership positions spanning sales, business development, client relationship management and operations. He has also demonstrated leadership skills that have nurtured and retained talent within growing teams, enabling organizations to deliver service excellence through a customer-centric approach.
“Etihad Cargo is delighted to welcome Giridharan to the team. His appointment further reinforces the carrier’s commitment to the Indian Subcontinent, strengthens Etihad Cargo’s commercial team in the region and positions the airline for further growth in this key market. I am confident Giridharan’s knowledge, expertise and passion for delivering world-class solutions will contribute to Etihad Cargo’s ambitious long-term growth plans for the Indian Subcontinent, further cementing the carrier’s position as the air cargo partner of choice for Etihad Cargo’s customers in this region,” said Latha Narayan, Etihad Cargo, Director Commercial APAC, Australasia and Indian Subcontinent.
Commenting on his new role, Srinivasan said: “I’m thrilled to join Etihad Cargo and be a part of the carrier’s exciting expansion plans in this region. Over the last few years, Etihad Cargo has added depth to its Indian Subcontinent network and has continued to enhance its products. I truly believe the carrier is well-positioned to seize new opportunities in this dynamic region, and I am fully aligned with Etihad Cargo’s commitment to continuously investing in and enhancing the customer experience. I look forward to working closely with the regional team to find innovative, tailored solutions that fully meet the capacity requirements of Etihad Cargo’s customers and partners.”
Etihad Cargo recently announced its winter schedule, which will see the introduction of two new routes in the Indian Subcontinent region and additional frequencies to existing destinations. It will offer more belly-hold cargo capacity across new passenger routes to Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, operating seven flights per week to each destination.
Likewise, the carrier will provide additional belly-hold capacity via new passenger flights to Chennai, Kochi, the Maldives, Columbo and Islamabad.
Technology has made the world smaller and faster.Real time communication with people from all over the world at different time zones through phones and gadgets
