People: Chapman Freeborn names Gerasimova CEO

Chapman Freeborn has appointed Saska Gerasimova as group chief executive, effective today. She succeeds Eric Erbacher , who was CEO for more than five years. [caption id="attachment_57292404" align="aligncenter" width="1084"] Saska Gerasimova[/caption] Gerasimova comes to Chapman Freeborn with experience in aviation leasing, air cargo, logistics and fleet management, according to a release from the company today. She most recently was senior supply chain manager with Amazon Air Europe . Prior to that, she worked as fleet director and leasing manager at Smartwings Group . Erbacher remains with the company and will serve as chair of the Chapman Freeborn Holdings Board of Directors. Astral Aviation names Judd chief strategy, transformation officer [caption id="attachment_57292399" align="alignright" width="237"] Darryl Judd[/caption] Astral Aviation has appointed Darryl Judd as executive director of its board and chief strategy and transformation officer. Based in Dubai, Judd operates across Astral’s businesses in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, according to an Oct. 7 release. His responsibilities include leading Astral’s shift from primarily non-scheduled operations to scheduled ones, and shaping fleet and network development, according to the release. Judd brings more than three decades of airline and air cargo leadership, most recently serving as managing partner at consulting firm Logistics Executives Group . He previously held leadership positions at Maersk and Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services . Leunen to helm cargo development at Ostend-Bruges Airport [caption id="attachment_57292401" align="alignright" width="200"] Johan Leunen[/caption] Ostend-Bruges Airport (OST) has appointed Johan Leunen as cargo development director, according to an Oct. 9 release from the airport. Leunen brings more than twenty-three years of experience in the air cargo industry, having begun his career in operations and advancing in customer support and sales management. He most recently served as senior business and development manager of cargo at Brussels Airport (BRU). He has also held roles at Rhenus Air Belgium and Flightcare Belgium . OST had a cargo throughput of 33,051 tonnes in 2023, the latest available data from the airport. Air France-KLM promotes Carkaxhija, Bandet more [caption id="attachment_57292403" align="alignright" width="300"] Pierre-Olivier Bandet and Oltion Carkaxhija[/caption] Air France-KLM named Oltion Carkaxhija as chief operating officer and Pierre-Olivier Bandet as executive vice president of cargo, effective Oct. 1. Carkaxhija has been with Air France-KLM for seven years, most recently as EVP of strategy and transformation. He has also held leadership roles at Air Canada . As COO, Carkaxhija’s responsibilities include transformation projects, IT and fleet, according to the Oct. 1 release. Bandet was EVP of information systems since January 2023 and has held numerous positions at Air France-KLM Group since 1992. Bandet succeeds Adriaan den Heijer , who became chief commercial officer of Air France-KLM effective Sept. 1. Air France-KLM also promoted: Caroline Hadrbolec to EVP of human resources, from SVP of human resources; Henri de Peyrelongue to EVP of SAS integration, from EVCP of marketing; and Ekbel Bouzgarrou to SVP of information systems, from VP of IT and services. Air France-KLM announced in July that it had initiated proceedings to take a majority stake in SAS . Cathey to oversee drone growth at Walmart [caption id="attachment_57292400" align="alignright" width="202"] Greg Cathey[/caption] Walmart has appointed Greg Cathey to the newly created role of senior vice president of digital fulfillment transformation. Cathey will lead efforts to incubate and scale next-generation fulfillment models, such as drone delivery , autonomous transport, and automated pickup and delivery, Cathey said in an Oct. 18 social media post. Cathey has worked with Walmart for more than fifteen years, most recently as senior vice president of transformation and innovation. He also spent eight years working at Sam’s Club between two stints with Walmart. Cripps to manage European sales for Oman Air Cargo [caption id="attachment_57292402" align="alignright" width="177"] Lesley Cripps[/caption] Oman Air Cargo has appointed Lesley Cripps as European sales manager, building out the company’s account program in the region and overseeing the airline’s general sales agents network, according to an Oct. 15 release. Bringing more than thirty years of experience to the role, Cripps has previously held leadership positions at Cargo Flash Infotech , Air Astana , Saudia Cargo , Chapman Freeborn, Martinair and Singapore Airlines . Cripps will work with the carrier’s Muscat-based sales team to strengthen services across Europe, the Middle East and the Far East, according to the release. FIATA elects new leadership team with Sim as president [caption id="attachment_57292405" align="alignright" width="205"] Thomas Sim[/caption] The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) members elected Thomas Sim , a council member of the Singapore Logistics Association , as president during the 2025 electoral general meeting on Oct. 10 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Sim succeeds Turgut Erkeskin , of Turkey’s Association of International Forwarding and Logistics Service Providers . FIATA members also elected: Jens Roemer , of Forward Belgium , as a senior vice president; Nadia Abdul Aziz , of the United Arab Emirates’ National Association of Freight and Logistics , as an SVP; Yukki Hanafi Nugrahawan , of the Indonesian Logistics and Forwarders Association , as an SVP; Neil Taylor , of the Asociacion Logistica de Chile , as treasurer; and Keshav Tanna , of the Air Cargo Agents Association of India , as secretary general. Cargo Facts Symposium, the quintessential event for stakeholders and key leaders in the global freighter and air cargo industries, will take place Oct. 22-24 at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville . Learn more and register today to attend this key industry event. Cargo Facts LATAM 2026, the essential event for stakeholders in Latin America, will take place Feb. 10-12 at the Marquis Reforma in Mexico City. Learn more and register by Dec. 19 to take advantage of early-bird pricing.

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