Vladimir Zubkov to push expansion, modernization as TIACA’s new boss

Vladimir Zubkov has been appointed the new secretary general at TIACA, replacing Doug Brittin, who retires at the end of the year. Zubkov has more than 40 years’ experience in the air transport industry, extensive regulatory-side practice at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and most recently served as vice president of the Volga-Dnepr Group.

The incoming secretary general has an established track record of representing aviation interests in ICAO policy making.  “Vladimir’s wealth of experience in both the private and regulatory sectors will prove invaluable to TIACA, whose mission is to bring the entire global air cargo community together,” said TIACA’s chairman, Sanjiv Edward.

Zubkov said he plans to continue working with regulators and key international organizations, including ICAO, IATA, the World Customs Organization (WCO), freight forwarder organizations, Airports Council International (ACI), and others, “to ensure that the new regulations are implemented in a uniform way across the industry.”

For those wondering what Zubkov’s agenda will look like, he has stressed that that TIACA needs to grow its engagement in “territories where it is under-represented,” including the Far and Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Bringing more members into the organization will be a priority under his leadership, he added.

Zubkov is also a proponent of modernization in the air transport industry. As an advocate for e-commerce and e-freight, he said he wants to work with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international organizations to speed up e-freight adoption.

In addition to his eight years at Volga-Dnepr, Zubkov also served for over 20 years with ICAO, as director of air transport bureau and, later, as director of planning and global coordination. He also spent a decade with Aeroflot, launching his career at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport.