People: Krepp leaves Polar as Atlas Air, DHL JV winds down

Kersti Krepp has left Polar Air Cargo , the joint venture between Atlas Air and DHL , after nearly twenty-four years. [caption id="attachment_57294054" align="alignright" width="248"] Kersti Krepp[/caption] Atlas Air and DHL announced in February 2025 that they would dissolve the Polar Air Cargo joint venture in 2025. The companies agreed that the joint venture no longer aligned with the strategic direction of either company, Atlas previously told Cargo Facts . Atlas continues to operate Polar Air Cargo's four 747-8Fs and two 777Fs. Krepp, senior vice president and chief management officer since April 2024, said in a Jan. 1 social media post that a new chapter was on the horizon for her and that she would disclose more soon. In her time at Polar Air Cargo , Krepp has held leadership roles including chief commercial officer and vice president of sales and marketing for Asia Pacific. Atherton takes the helm at Textron [caption id="attachment_57294055" align="alignright" width="242"] Lisa Atherton[/caption] Textron , the parent company of Textron Aviation , named Lisa Atherton president and chief executive, effective Jan. 4. She also joined Textron’s board of directors. Atherton succeeded Scott Donnelly , who joined Textron in 2008. He remains executive chair of the board. Atherton has spent the past nearly three years as president and CEO of Textron subsidiary Bell Flight . Prior to that, she spent nearly six years as president and CEO of Textron Systems . She has nearly two decades of leadership experience at Textron businesses. Bradley named Cathay Group board chair as Healy retires [caption id="attachment_57293968" align="alignright" width="300"] Patrick Healy and Guy Bradley[/caption] The Cathay Group board of directors has appointed Guy Bradley as chair, effective May 13. Bradley will succeed longtime chair Patrick Healy , who will step down as chair that day. Healy, who became board chair in November 2019, will also retire from the Swire Group , the largest shareholder for Cathay Pacific , on May 31, according to a Dec. 23, 2025, release from the Cathay Group. Healy has been with the Swire Group for more than three decades in multiple leadership positions. Bradley has been a director of Swire Pacific , part of the Swire Group, and its chair since August 2021. He joined the Swire Group in 1987. He is also a former deputy chair and current member of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and a vice president of the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong . Berger to retire from ATSG, Mays assumes CEO role [caption id="attachment_57293967" align="alignright" width="300"] Mike Berger and Greg Mays[/caption] Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) President Greg Mays added CEO to his title on Jan. 1 as CEO Mike Berger prepares to retire. Berger will remain with ATSG in an advisory capacity for part of 2026 to ensure a smooth transition, according to a Dec. 17, 2025, release. Berger became CEO in June 2024, succeeding interim CEO Joe Hete . In the industry for about thirty years, Berger became CCO at ATSG in February 2018, chief strategy officer in December 2022 and president in October 2023. Mays became ATSG president in September, succeeding Jeffrey Dominick . Before joining ATSG in 2025, Mays served for six years as EVP and chief operating officer at Sun Country Airlines . He also held leadership roles with Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines . Al-Khater becomes CEO of Qatar Airways Group [caption id="attachment_57293563" align="alignright" width="251"] Hamad Ali Al‑Khater[/caption] Qatar Airways Group appointed Hamad Ali Al‑Khater as CEO , effective Dec. 7, 2025. Al-Khater succeeded Badr Mohammed Al‑Meer , who held the role for two years, according to a Dec. 7, 2025, release from the group. Al-Khater joined Qatar Airways from Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH), where he was COO. He was with DOH for nearly two years. He also spent nearly nine years managing business development at QatarEnergy . Chraibi named VP of cargo at Royal Air Maroc [caption id="attachment_57293970" align="alignright" width="226"] Rita Chraibi[/caption] Morocco-based Royal Air Maroc (RAM) appointed Rita Chraibi as vice president of cargo in November 2025, according to a Dec. 15, 2025, release. Chraibi succeeded Yassine Berrada , who took the role in July 2022. Berrada is now RAM’s VP of audit, risk and compliance. He has been with the airline since June 2007. With nearly twenty years of experience at RAM, Chraibi most recently served as director of human resources. As VP of cargo, she is responsible for advancing the cargo division’s development strategy through 2037, with a focus on customer experience and network expansion through new cargo route openings , the release said. Maersk taps Erni as CFO [caption id="attachment_57293971" align="alignright" width="267"] Robert Erni[/caption] A.P. Moller-Maersk has named Robert Erni chief financial officer to succeed Patrick Jany , who has held the role for six years, according to a Dec. 12, 2025, release. Jany will oversee the yearend closing and the annual report, to be announced Feb. 5, after which the transition takes effect. Erni brings more than thirty years of experience in global logistics finance to Maersk . He founded consultancy firm Remancon in July 2023 and has been managing director since. He has also held CFO roles at DACHSER and Panalpina . Erni began his career at Kuehne+Nagel , where he spent fourteen years. Freightos founder Schreiber to step down as CEO [caption id="attachment_57293972" align="alignright" width="195"] Zvi Schreiber[/caption] Zvi Schreiber , founder and CEO of digital booking company Freightos , will step down as CEO on Jan. 31 to pursue other entrepreneurial interests, according to a Dec. 17, 2025, release from the company. Schreiber will remain a non-executive board member. CFO Pablo Pinillos will serve as interim CEO while the board searches for a new CEO. Pinillos has been with Freightos, founded in 2012, since March 2025. Champ Cargosystems welcomes Medrano, Marcangelo [caption id="attachment_57293966" align="alignright" width="300"] Manuel Galindo Medrano and Gianluca Marcangelo[/caption] Cargo technology company Champ Cargosystems has appointed Manuel Galindo Medrano as CEO, effective Jan. 8, according to a Dec. 18, 2025, post Champ made on social media. He succeeds Christopher McDermott , who has been CEO since October 2020. Medrano founded WebCargo in 2009 and served as its CEO until September 2023, when he became chief revenue officer at Freightos, which had acquired WebCargo in 2016. He is also a member of the advisory board to MADCargo Lab, an innovation initiative by the Madrid Air Cargo Forum to drive digitalization in Madrid’s air cargo industry. Champ also appointed Gianluca Marcangelo as VP of neo program engagement, leading customer engagement and the transition to Cargospot neo, Champ’s newest cargo management solution, according to a Nov. 24, 2025, release. With more than twenty-five years of experience in air cargo and logistics, Marcangelo spent the past nearly five years with Challenge Group , most recently as head of industry relations and marketing. He has also held leadership positions with Oman Air and Global GSA Group . Bloom named Gevo president, will succeed Gruber as CEO [caption id="attachment_57293969" align="alignright" width="300"] Paul Bloom and Patrick Gruber[/caption] Net-zero hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals producer Gevo appointed Paul Bloom president and a member of the company’s board of directors, effective Dec. 9, 2025, according to a Dec. 15, 2025, release. Bloom will succeed Gevo CEO Patrick Gruber when he retires April 1. Gruber has been CEO since July 2007. Bloom was appointed Gevo’s chief business officer in January 2025. He continues to serve as chief carbon officer and chief innovation officer, roles he has held since March 2021 when he joined the company. He has previously held leadership positions at Verity Tracking and Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. Additionally, Gevo has named Greg Hanselman EVP of operations and engineering, according to a release today. Hanselman will become COO following the June retirement of Chris Ryan , who has been COO since June 2011. Hanselman has previously held leadership positions at Ingredion and Tate & Lyle . 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. Register for Cargo Facts LATAM by Jan. 9 to take advantage of early-bird pricing. To see the agendas and register for the events, visit CargoFactsEvents.com .

People: Krepp leaves Polar as Atlas Air, DHL JV winds down

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