People: Altavair co-founder Newrick to retire after 47-year career

Altavair co-founder Paul Newrick retired this week from the aviation industry after forty-seven years. Matt Hoesley has succeeded Newrick as Altavair president and will continue as chief commercial officer. [caption id="attachment_57295064" align="alignright" width="381"] Paul Newrick and Matt Hoesley[/caption] Newrick and Altavair Chief Executive Steve Rimmer in 2003 founded Guggenheim Aviation Partners , which became Altavair in 2016. Newrick began his aviation career in 1979 with British Aerospace . “Having worked for Altavair and its predecessor companies for decades, and within such a special company culture, this has not been an easy decision to step away and retire,” Newrick said in a Jan. 19 release from the company. “I will look back on my time at Altavair with great pride and fond memories.” Hoesley served as head of acquisitions at Altavair for more than eighteen years before moving into the CCO position in October. He also served as director of investment firm Guggenheim Partners from 2005 to 2016, when the management team behind Guggenheim Aviation Partners bought the aircraft leasing business from Guggenheim to form Altavair. Keinyte exits Magma Aviation UAE [caption id="attachment_57295060" align="alignright" width="227"] Audrone Keinyte[/caption] After four years with Avia Solutions Group , Audrone Keinyte has retired as director of subsidiary Magma Aviation UAE , Keinyte announced in a Jan. 9 social media post. Magma has not yet named her successor. Keinyte was appointed director of Magma Aviation UAE in July 2024. In addition to serving as director of Magma, she was CCO of Slovakia-based AirExplore from June 2024 to October 2025. Keinyte previously served as CEO and board member of BBN Cargo Airlines Holdings . She began her career in air cargo in 2006. Sun Country promotes Coley to COO [caption id="attachment_57295067" align="alignright" width="233"] Stephen Coley[/caption] Sun Country Airlines promoted Stephen Coley to chief operating officer this month, Coley announced in a Jan. 9 social media post. Coley succeeds Greg Mays , who held the role for six years before leaving in May 2025 and joining ATSG a few months later. Coley joined Sun Country in January 2025 as vice president of technical operations before being promoted to senior vice president and head of operations in August 2025. He has also held roles with United Airlines , HAECO Americas and Avtel Aviation Services . Mueller named VP of air logistics at Kuehne+Nagel [caption id="attachment_57295066" align="alignright" width="240"] Pete Mueller[/caption] Pete Mueller became VP of air logistics at Kuehne+Nagel this month, according to a Jan. 21 social media post from Mueller. Mueller has spent his nearly nineteen-year career with Kuehne+Nagel , beginning as a management trainee in 2007. Prior to this promotion, he was VP of air logistics for Canada. Chapman Freeborn appoints Porteous as VP of cargo for Canada [caption id="attachment_57295068" align="alignright" width="162"] Tyler Porteous[/caption] Chapman Freeborn appointed Tyler Porteous as VP of cargo for Canada in December, according to a release today. Porteous focuses on developing Chapman Freeborn’s cargo operations in Canada, expanding its customer base and identifying opportunities across key markets. Porteous came to Chapman Freeborn from Cargojet , where he worked for nearly fourteen years, eventually rising to senior director of global charter sales. Gessner, Kerr join Awery Aviation Software [caption id="attachment_57295063" align="alignright" width="300"] Christian Gessner and David Kerr[/caption] Awery Aviation Software has appointed Christian Gessner as business development manager, and David Kerr has joined Awery as a consultant, according to a Jan. 20 release. Gessner previously held leadership positions at WebCargo by Freightos , Wipro , IBS Software , Champ Cargosystems , Unisys and IATA . He began his air cargo career in December 2004. Kerr was previously CEO of European Cargo , a role he held from January 2023 to April 2024. He has also held leadership positions with CargoLogicAir , Etihad Airways and American Airlines . Cargo Facts will present four invaluable events for airfreight professionals in the first half of 2026, starting with Cargo Facts LATAM, on Feb. 10-12. To see the agendas and register for the events, visit CargoFactsEvents.com .

People: Altavair co-founder Newrick to retire after 47-year career

Magma, Sun Country, Kuehne+Nagel, Chapman Freeborn, Awery see leadership changes

EFW’s London joins Cargo Facts LATAM 2026

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