People: Gerg to head Embraer’s new leasing, freighter team

Embraer Commercial Aviation has appointed Oliver Gerg as senior vice president of its newly formed global leasing and freighter team. [caption id="attachment_57149614" align="alignright" width="300"] Oliver Gerg[/caption] The new team, based in Amsterdam, specializes in E-Jet passenger-to-freighter conversions and commercial aviation leasing, according to a March 10 release. Embraer launched its freighter conversion program for the E190 and E195 passenger aircraft in 2022, a launch in which Gerg “played a pivotal role,” according to the release. The E190F has secured approval from the FAA, EASA and Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency. Gerg has led the company’s global leasing team as vice president since 2022. Before joining Embraer, he spent fifteen years in numerous leadership positions at Rolls-Royce. “The creation of the global leasing and freighter team is a critical step in our strategy to capitalize on opportunities in the growing cargo and leasing markets,” Embraer Chief Commercial Officer Martyn Holmes said in the release. Udvar-Hazy to retire from executive role at Air Lease Corp. Steven Udvar-Hazy will retire as executive chairperson at Air Lease Corp. on May 2, following the company’s 2025 stockholders meeting. He will continue to serve on the company’s board of directors as non-executive chairperson until the 2026 stockholders meeting, according to a March 13 release. [caption id="attachment_57149612" align="alignright" width="300"] Steven Udvar-Hazy[/caption] Udvar-Hazy founded Air Lease Corp. in 2010 and served as chairperson and chief executive until 2016, at which time he became executive chairperson. Air Lease Corp. has seven A350Fs on order . With a sixty-year career in aviation, Udvar-Hazy “played a critical role in the inception of the aircraft leasing industry,” according to the release. After starting an airline consulting business early in his career, he created an aircraft leasing company where he began brokering aircraft. In 1973, he co-founded and led International Lease Finance Corp. until his retirement in 2010. Udvar-Hazy donated $65 million to the Smithsonian Institution in 1999, which funded the creation of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's annex at Dulles International Airport (IAD). Foran resigns as Air New Zealand’s CEO [caption id="attachment_57149609" align="alignright" width="300"] Greg Foran[/caption] Greg Foran has resigned after five years as CEO of Air New Zealand and will leave the post on Oct. 20. Air New Zealand’s board will immediately initiate a global search for his replacement, a March 6 release said. Foran will help with the transition. Air New Zealand carries belly cargo but is looking to add next-generation regional cargo aircraft. The carrier upped its order with Beta Technologies to four Alia CX300 electric conventional takeoff and landing cargo aircraft in December 2024 and will lease Beta’s technical demonstrator until the first commercial unit’s delivery in 2026. The carrier’s cargo revenue from June through December 2024 was $257 million NZ ($148 million), an increase of 5.8 percent year over year, according to Air New Zealand’s interim earnings report on Feb. 20. Pope steps down from COO position at Boeing [caption id="attachment_57149611" align="alignright" width="248"] Stephanie Pope[/caption] Stephanie Pope stepped down as chief operating officer of Boeing on Feb. 19, according to a Feb. 25 securities filing from the company. Pope remains an executive vice president, as well as president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Pope took the newly created COO position in late 2023. Boeing has not named a new COO. Also, Sabrina Soussan will not stand for re-election to the company’s board of directors at its annual shareholders meeting on April 24, according to the SEC filing. Her seat will not be filled as the board aims to reduce its size, the company said in the filing. Boeing has seen significant leadership changes in the past year. Robert K. “Kelly” Ortberg became president and CEO in August, succeeding Dave Calhoun, who had announced his retirement in March. Calhoun’s retirement announcement coincided with the announcements that Chairperson Larry Kellner would not seek re-election and commercial airplanes division chief Stan Deal was leaving the company. Bowden overseeing safety, quality at HAECO [caption id="attachment_57149608" align="alignright" width="258"] Chris Bowden[/caption] Chris Bowden this month started a new position as group general manager of safety and quality at Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. (HAECO), according to a LinkedIn post. Bowden previously served as head of cargo global partnerships at Cathay Pacific Airways . Bowden was at Cathay for nearly seven years and before that spent nearly a decade at Swire Pacific Offshore. HAECO, Cathay and Swire Pacific Offshore are all part of the Swire Group. HAECO is a major MRO provider for Cathay. Global GSA names Aggunduz as CCO [caption id="attachment_57149613" align="alignright" width="203"] Zafer Aggunduz[/caption] Global GSA Group last month appointed Zafer Aggunduz as chief commercial officer, a role in which he will focus on growing airline partnerships and market reach, according to a Feb. 24 release. Aggunduz has held several leadership positions at Global GSA over the last decade, most recently as chief business development officer. He has also held leadership roles at Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST), Simurg Medya and JusTrade. The company expects Aggunduz to help it grow its global footprint, according to the release. Stefanini named director of air transportation at Mercado Livre [caption id="attachment_57149607" align="alignright" width="208"] Andre Stefanini[/caption] Andre Stefanini last month became director of air transportation at Mercado Livre Brasil, the Brazilian branch of Latin American e-tailer Mercado Libre , according to a LinkedIn post. Stefanini previously served as head of air operations at the company. Prior to joining Mercado Libre, he held various leadership roles at LATAM Airlines and ABSA Cargo Airline. Editor’s note: All amounts have been converted to U.S. dollars. Register now for Cargo Facts' essential regional events for industry stakeholders: Cargo Facts Asia 2025 on March 24-26 at the W Shanghai in China; and Cargo Facts EMEA 2025 on May 6-8 at the Shangri-La Bosphorus in Turkey.

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