Chief Operating Officer
Air Charter International
Total years of experience :31 years, 1 Months
Achievements:
• Instrumental in strategy development of the FlyAwesome business;
• Merged the operations of the newly acquired Medevac business into the current ACMI business in record time.
• Moved the outsourced maintenance of the medevac aircraft in-house without losing any revenue flights;
• Through extremely focussed business development processes built up the medevac business to be the number 1 service provider in Africa (Customer database grew to 4600 worldwide clients).
• Instrumental in achieving EURAMI approval for medevac business and therefor becoming an international provider of choice.
• First aviation company in Africa to receive ISO 9000.2015 approval at first attempt;
• Reduced overall maintenance costs on all aircraft types by negotiating supply and repair contracts with the engine and airframe OEM’s, Part suppliers and subcontractors.
• First maintenance facility in South Africa to receive approval for a newly developed paperless maintenance process;
• Successfully negotiated engine PBH, repair, and overhaul agreements with Dallas Air Motive, Vector, and Pratt & Whitney.
Responsibilities:
• Accountable Manager
• Responsible for the profitability of the division.
• Implementation of shareholders and company strategy;
• Daily operational responsibilities;
• Marketing and customer and supplier direct liaison;
• Business development for newly acquired air ambulance capability.
Managing a team of 160 employees
Achievements:
• Achieved greater operational efficiency through leadership, people management, and systems.
• Grew operational revenue to record levels through focussed business development efforts.
• Doubled charters revenue over two years
• Turned around the company operations to become one of the top 3 ACMI operators in South Africa.
• Achieved full World Food Program accreditation for the company.
Responsibilities:
• Deputy Accountable Manager
• Fully accountable for the profitability of the division;
• Implementation of shareholders and company strategy;
• Aircraft operational and maintenance management;
• Business development and growth of customer base throughout Africa and the Middle East;
• Customer liaison through regular visits to all operational bases;
• IT, Financial, Maintenance and Operational system development (Simplicity);
• Responsible to negotiate every operational, maintenance and subcontractor agreements including all engine agreements;
• Development of Charter and FBO business;
• Board reporting on the state of business including financial, operational, and HR.
• Managing a team of 97 employees
Achievements:
• Transformed Maintenance division from a loss-making division to a low cost, highly productive and efficient entity.
• The automated flow of financial transactions between the maintenance system and financial system.
• Reduced headcount by 30% through the automation of systems and processes;
• Successfully negotiated to transfer the Embraer Service Centre for Africa to NAC.
Responsibilities:
• Responsible for the profitability of the division.
• Implementation of shareholders and company strategy;
• Implementation of more stringent financial controls to ensure costs and revenue are optimized;
• Responsible for the management of all aircraft maintenance aspects including:
o Airframe maintenance
o Engine management including PBH, Engine components, OEM liaison
o Contracting with suppliers
o Engineering and Planning functions
o Aircraft maintenance system and implementation of such
o Regulatory Compliance - Safety and Quality
• Managing a team of 103 employees
Achievements:
• Instrumental in negotiations to merge Naturelink and NAC into one entity;
• Successfully negotiated to transfer the PAL and EADS Socata sales agencies to Imperial/NAC;
• Implemented strategies to turn around the loss-making company.
• Successfully negotiated and implemented the agency agreement with Embraer for the sale of the Embraer Legacy into Africa and becoming the Embraer Service centre for Africa.
• Negotiated the PAC Aviation (New Zealand) Sales agency agreement for the African region;
• Securing aircraft financing for the entire fleet of Embraer 120 aircraft.
• Completely revamped the IT support function;
• Received WFP accreditation and placed first five aircraft on long term lease;
• Successfully negotiated shipping supplier deals with DHL, Schenker, and FedEx.
Responsibilities:
• Accountable Manager
• Responsible for the profitability of the company.
• Implementation of shareholders and company strategy;
• Readying the company for a merger with NAC;
• Implementation of more stringent financial controls;
• Managing a team of 4 Executive Directors and 170 employees
Achievements:
• Facilitation and Implementation of the Naturelink acquisition by Safair;
• Secured the Sales agency for EADS Socata aircraft.
Responsibilities:
• In charge of the operational control of the company;
• A key player in the Strategic planning process and implementation of company objectives.
• Implementation of Corporate Governance objectives in line with the requirements of the holding company;
• Engine supplier management and control;
• Aircraft spares supplier management;
• Responsible for implementing proper warehouse procedures;
• Human Resource management including the sourcing of skilled employees throughout the organisation;
• Industrial relations management with subcontractors including Training (SETA) and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) program
• Aircraft acquisitions and liaison with financial institutions;
• Company acquisitions and management of the due diligence processes;
• Generation of Board proposals for aircraft acquisitions;
• Weekly and Monthly management reports to the Board Members;
• Oversee company budget process;
• All IT-related functions including the successful implementation of the aircraft maintenance system (AMASIS).
• Infrastructure development and related budget controls and procedures;
• Involved with Aircraft Sales and Marketing of Aircraft leasing fleet;
• Responsible for all legal issues including lease agreements, agency agreements, supplier agreements, guarantees, buy-back guarantees, liaison between legal advisors and the company.
• Liaison with financial institutions on all aircraft sales and financing activities;
• Management and control of aircraft manufacturers contracts;
• Development of the supply chain to timeously service the requirements of the company including the set-up and negotiation of Import/Export supplier contracts;
• In charge of the disposal of non-core activities and assets e.g. paint shop and component overhaul shops;
• Assisting the Maintenance Director and Operations Director in streamlining their processes and procedures.
Achievements:
• Successfully placed the returned B737-fleet of aircraft with new operators;
• Successfully removed MD80 fleet from France after the liquidation of Air Lib including liaison with the French Aviation and Customs Authorities;
• Completed the due diligence process for the acquisition of Naturelink;
• Chairman of the Tender Board and negotiated the Safair aircraft engines repair contract in Singapore with STAE Aerospace.
• Successfully negotiated and implemented the ATR material supply contract;
• Managed the project to deliver 7 x MD80 aircraft with extensive modifications to Europe and the USA. The aircraft were delivered in record time;
• Successfully recovered +-R60m on old debtors book that was written off; and
• A key member of the team that successfully negotiated and implemented the current IT system. A key player in the development of future system releases in conjunction with IFR France.
Responsibilities:
• Business Development: Extensive travel into Asia, the USA, South America and especially focused on the African market;
• Risk Manager for the Safair group including subsidiaries in Ireland;
• Marketing and placement of aircraft returned from lease;
• Maintenance support from a financial perspective including the full costing and budget control process of the Maintenance Department;
• Project Management;
• Departmental Budget Control;
• Information System implementation and support;
• Member of the Board of Directors of the Imperial Aviation Division;
• Member of Imperial Group audit committee; and
• Before being promoted to Executive Director, responsible for the following:
o In the position as Senior Manager Technical Support and Management Accounting-
Financial Support to the Executive Director Technical;
Project management of aircraft technical delivery;
Supply chain process definition and coordination; and
Budget process management and control.
o In the position as Senior Manager: Management Accounting-
Financial Stock Control;
Providing a financial interface between Technical and IT department.
Super-user during the implementation of Aircraft maintenance system (AMASIS) and responsible for interfaces to the General Ledger.
Debtors, invoicing and debt collection;
Managed the Countertrade program between three companies as part of the SA Government Off-set program.
Financial Reporting; and
Subsidiary accounting and reporting.
Achievements:
• Successfully implement the budget and reporting system for one of the business units;
• Implemented and developed the job costing system for the unit; and
• Streamlined inventory control system.
Responsibilities:
• Financial Analysis and reporting;
• Debtors and invoicing process management and control;
• Project financial control and liaison with ARMSCOR;
• Budget management and control; and
• Monthly Financial Reporting.
B Comm Honours degree