CDB Aviation Enlists Ryan Barrett to Lead Asia Pacific Commercial Operations

Seasoned Executive and Deal Strategist Bolsters Commercial Team with Extensive Relationships and Depth in Airline Industry

Seasoned aviation executive and deal strategist Ryan Barrett bolsters CDB Aviation's commercial team with extensive relationships and depth in the airline industry. (Photo: Business Wire)

HONG KONG--()--CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (“CDB Leasing”), announced today that former GECAS executive Ryan Barrett has joined its commercial team as Head of Commercial, Asia Pacific.

The continued build-out of the lessor’s commercial leadership is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen CDB Aviation’s strategic presence in key markets around the world. The appointment comes on the heels of the recent addition of Michelle Wu as Head of Commercial, Greater China.

“Ryan is a highly regarded commercial executive with a vast network of relationships in the global airline community, who will enable us to leverage market opportunities and stimulate further growth,” commented Peter Goodman, CDB Aviation Chief Marketing Officer. “In-depth understanding of airline-lessor dynamics, specifically in the areas of transactional execution, deal origination, and negotiation, is key to anticipating and addressing the needs of airlines.”

Barrett’s two-decade-long aviation career is rooted in his extensive knowledge of airline business models and aircraft technical and finance aspects. Barrett is joining CDB Aviation from GECAS, where he held senior leadership roles in sales and marketing. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President Commercial, with responsibility for the full lease transaction lifecycle, and leading the lessor’s business development activities across the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa. Barrett began his career at GE Aviation in the U.S., where he served in both technical and sales capacities, ending as Regional Sales Director in Dubai, overseeing customer strategies and commercial campaigns for new engine and MRO services sales in the Middle East. Barrett holds an MBA from the University of Cape Town and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of South Africa (UNISA). He is an FAA-licensed Airframe and Powerplant technician.

Ryan Barrett, the newly appointed Head of Commercial, Asia Pacific, expressed his enthusiasm about “joining forces with one of the industry’s preeminent leasing platforms, hailed for its utmost commitment to building long-term relationships. I look forward to spearheading efforts in Asia Pacific’s fastest-growing markets, bringing us closer to airline stakeholders in the region and leveraging the scale of our recognized world-class operation to provide best-of-breed solutions.”

Patrick Hannigan, CDB Aviation’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Ryan’s appointment speaks to our platform’s unique position among lessors to attract top industry talent. Ryan shares our team’s vision of bringing the value and benefits of a true global, full-service aircraft lessor, our shareholder, and other stakeholders to support the industry recovery while building for the future.”

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions, including with respect to CDB Aviation’s business, financial condition, results of operations or plans. CDB Aviation cautions readers that no forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and that actual results or other financial condition or performance measures could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as ”may,” “will,” “seek,” “continue,” “aim,” “anticipate,” “target,” “projected,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “believe,” “achieve” or other terminology or words of similar meaning. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of CDB Aviation’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to, and will not, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About CDB Aviation

CDB Aviation is a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (“CDB Leasing”) a 37-year-old Chinese leasing company that is backed mainly by the China Development Bank. CDB Aviation is rated Investment Grade by Moody’s (A2), S&P Global (A), and Fitch (A+). China Development Bank is under the direct jurisdiction of the State Council of China and is the world’s largest development finance institution. It is also the largest Chinese bank for foreign investment and financing cooperation, long-term lending and bond issuance, enjoying Chinese sovereign credit rating.

CDB Leasing is the only leasing arm of the China Development Bank and a leading company in China’s leasing industry that has been engaged in aircraft, infrastructure, ship, commercial vehicle and construction machinery leasing and enjoys a Chinese sovereign credit rating. It took an important step in July 2016 to globalize and marketize its business – listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX STOCK CODE: 1606). www.CDBAviation.aero

Contacts

Paul Thibeau
Paul.THIBEAU@CDBAviation.aero; +1 612 594 9844

Release Summary

Seasoned aviation executive and deal strategist Ryan Barrett bolsters the commercial team with extensive relationships in the airline industry.

Contacts

Paul Thibeau
Paul.THIBEAU@CDBAviation.aero; +1 612 594 9844