Chapman Freeborn Reports Rise in Women Management Roles

Chapman Freeborn has recently released data showing a 48 percent increase in the number of women employed in management positions over the last year, in addition to a nine percent increase in the number of women in the business.

Investing heavily in recruitment, training, and retention over the last year, Chapman Freeborn grew its total headcount by three percent overall.

“Chapman Freeborn has a culture that prioritises ability and performance over individual characteristics,” said Laura Smith, Senior UK HR Business Partner, Chapman Freeborn.

“We are working towards an even split of men and women, in contrast to the wider aviation industry where the balance is as disparate as 80-20, men to women.

“There is clearly still much more work to do, but at Chapman Freeborn we will continue bolstering and celebrating our colleagues, regardless of their gender identity.”

This follows Chapman Freeborn receiving the Best Full-Service Charter Company award at the Aviation Achievement Awards last month and earning recognition as Air Charter Broker of the Year for the second consecutive year at the Payload Asia Awards.

Chapman Freeborn Restructuring European Operations

Chapman Freeborn recently completed a strategic reorganization of its European cargo operations to strengthen its presence in traditional markets and expand into new industry verticals. As part of this restructure, James Gilliard has been appointed Vice President of Cargo Sales, and Markus Schmidt has taken on the role of Vice President of Cargo Commercial Operations. Both executives will report directly to Reto Hunziker, who continues as President of Europe.

James Gilliard emphasized the significance of this strategic shift, highlighting the company’s renewed focus on untapped markets, particularly within the energy and government sectors. He noted that the new structure positions Chapman Freeborn to effectively capture emerging opportunities while maintaining the high-quality service expected by customers.

Additionally, the company has appointed a general sales agent in Eastern Europe, a strategic move designed to solidify its market coverage across the European Union and diversify its sales base.

Markus Schmidt, previously responsible for cargo operations in the DACH region, expressed enthusiasm about leading the cargo charter brokerage team across Europe. He stated that the restructured team would engage more closely with customers, aligning with market trends and aggressively pursuing growth opportunities.

With over 45 years of combined experience in air cargo, Gilliard and Schmidt possess the expertise to navigate volatile market conditions effectively.

Reto Hunziker expressed confidence in their ability to drive Chapman Freeborn’s responsiveness and growth in the European market.