Board of Directors
JEFF CHATFIELD
Executive Chairman
Mr. Jeff Chatfield, BE, MESc, MAICD, FSID, is an accomplished businessman, experienced public company director, and executive with expertise in commercial airlines, aviation finance, aircraft leasing, electronic commerce, investment management, radio, and TV broadcasting. Having grown the business substantially, he notably led Skywest Airlines Ltd (LSE: SKYW) until its acquisition by Virgin Australia.
Currently, Mr. Chatfield serves as the Executive Chairman of Avation PLC (LSE: AVAP), a leading commercial aircraft leasing company listed on the London Stock Exchange. Mr. Chatfield's involvement in various successful international businesses has been marked by a desire to establish platforms with strong cash flow generation. He is based in Singapore, where he has both a residence and a corporate office.
MARK SHELTON
Executive Director
Mark Shelton is a diversified professional who has held Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer roles in a variety of industries both in publicly listed and private companies. Those have included Finance, Media, Aviation, Continuous Surface Mining and Fuel Distribution.
Mark has an ability to identify the key drivers of a business no matter what industry and manipulate those to maximise profits. Mark held the position as CEO of Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd, and was instrumental in forming the Virgin Australia Regional ATR72-600 airline network.
Mark graduated from Newman College and holds a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting and has participated in a number of post graduate courses.
RODERICK DOUGLAS MAHONEY
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Mahoney served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Commercial Officer of the Company for 10 years and retired from executive duties in 2022. Prior to that, Mr. Mahoney was a fleet planning and aircraft procurement consultant to the Group and has previously been a project advisor to a variety of Asia-Pacific airlines, suppliers and other aviation businesses, including Virgin Blue and V Australia. Before that, he held various senior executive positions at Airbus for 23 years, largely within the sales divisions covering Europe and Africa, China and the Pacific.
He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering, a Masters Degree in Air Transport from Cranfield Institute of Technology and a Masters of Applied Finance Degree from Macquarie University in Sydney. He is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the Singapore Institute of Directors. Mr. Mahoney was born in Hawick, Scotland and resides in Sydney, Australia.
DEREK SHARPLES
Non-Executive Director
Mr Sharples has had a life long career in aviation. He is a French resident and the ex-CEO of Airbus Helicopters Southeast Asia. Previously Mr Sharples was Corporate Secretary and Head of Legal and export control department at Airbus in Toulouse, France. He has experience as a Director of a Toronto Listed public company (Vector Aerospace Corporation) and as Director of companies in Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.
Mr Sharples has a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from the Cranfield School of Management. He is a licenced airline pilot, a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS). He holds the rank of Commander, Royal Navy.
Mr Sharples is a Fellow of the UK Institute of Directors (FIoD) and a UK Chartered Director (CDir). He holds dual British and French Nationalities.
PETER DAVIS
Non-Executive Director
Mr Davis has over 30 years of corporate finance experience as a treasurer and investment banker with experience in origination and execution across capital markets, loan markets, interest rate and cross currency derivatives, corporate finance, structured finance, corporate treasury and relationship coverage.
Mr Davis was Head of Treasury at BOC Aviation from 2008 to 2022. At BOC Aviation Mr Davis had overall responsibility for debt funding, interest rate risk management, liquidity and cash flow management as well as for managing external stakeholder relationships with lenders, institutional debt investors and credit ratings agencies.
Prior to his time at BOC Aviation Peter held several senior corporate and investment banking roles covering the aviation sector from 1994 to 2008.
Mr Davis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Sydney and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Senior Management
SOEREN FERRE
Chief Commercial Officer
Mr Ferre was formally the CEO at AerCap Group Services. His other positions at AerCap included Head of Europe, Africa, Middle East and the Asia Pacific, Head of Asia Pacific, and Vice President of Marketing Asia Pacific. Previously, Mr Ferre was Sales Director Pacific and China and General Manager Marketing China at Airbus. He also worked as Strategic Advisor to the Board of Directors of APFLeet.
Mr Ferre served as a director for Avation PLC subsidiary Capital Lease Aviation PLC and non-executive chairman of Bravo Passenger Solutions, a Singaporean IT services provider to airlines. Mr Ferre is a partner at Transport Capital Pte Ltd.
ASHLEY NICHOLAS
Director, Corporate Finance
Mr Nicholas currently holds the position of Director, Corporate Finance and is the main point of contact for all of the group’s banking relationships and asset backed finance.
Prior to this appointment, Mr Nicholas was a Director at an international general aviation group where he was involved in financing, negotiating and contracting of approximately 200 aircraft transactions. Mr Nicholas has also held an appointment at Bell Helicopters where he was responsible for sales within the Asia Pacific region. Mr Nicholas also holds auditing, accounting and business development experience.
Mr Nicholas is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, holds an MBA (with Finance Concentration) from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business and a BSc in Mathematics and Management from Kings College, University of London. Mr Nicholas was born in the United Kingdom and is a permanent resident of the Republic of Singapore.
MICHAEL DELA CRUZ
Head of Technical
Mr. Dela Cruz is an aviation technical services veteran, having had stints working in top-tier airline industries like Singapore Airline and Jetstar Asia Airways and aircraft/engine leasing company in Singapore. His technical expertise includes management of aircraft and engine leasing, engine overhaul, aircraft maintenance planning, aircraft reliability and aircraft major components maintenance.
Prior to working in Avation, Michael had diversified experiential and theoretical expertise in aviation industries as Head of Technical in the aircraft and engine leasing company, Technical Services Manager, Powerplant Engineer, IFE Technical specialist, Aircraft Maintenance Planner and Technical Instructor.
Mr. Dela Cruz holds a Bachelors Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from PATTS College of Aeronautics in The Philippines. He holds a Filipino citizenship and is a Permanent Resident of Singapore.