Former Bland Group Chief Joins Nyras 9th August 2011
Iain May appointed Senior Vice President
London, August 9, 2011: Nyras, the international aviation consultancy and investment company, has named former Bland Group Chief Executive, Iain May, as Senior Vice President.
With a top-level background in transaction management and air transport finance, Iain will work alongside existing Senior Vice President, David Huttner, who specialises in commercial and operational management, notably in the low-cost carrier sector.
Announcing the appointment, Nyras founder and Chief Executive, Richard Davey, said: This is a welcome, significant development for Nyras. Iain’s proven expertise as an industry leader – especially his experience in transactions, aviation financial management and financing – clearly enhances our value to clients.
“He and David will work closely with me to ensure the continued, successful growth of our company. As joint Senior Vice Presidents, they will spearhead business development and project management, as well as leading the 20-strong team of aviation experts working as Nyras Senior Associates in the UK and around the world.”
Iain May was formerly Chief Financial Officer for GB Airways and, after leading a successful turnaround programme, was integral to the £103.5 million sale to easyJet in January 2008. Following the sale, he then worked for two years as Chief Executive of Bland Group, the owners of GB Airways, restructuring and streamlining Bland’s remaining businesses and overseeing a number of acquisitions and investments, including the acquisitions and subsequent merger of Griffon Ltd and Hoverwork Ltd.
Iain drove the strategy to transform the merged Griffon Hoverwork from a ‘cottage industry’ to become the world’s leading hover raft manufacturer.
He returned to aviation in March 2010, becoming a Senior Associate with Nyras and, during the past year, has worked on several projects including due diligence related to a proposed airline merger, an airline restructuring, and an airline’s negotiations with its franchisor on its franchise agreement, among other projects.
Prior to joining GB Airways, as first employee and Chief Financial Officer of Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways, Iain worked from IPO to business launch, overseeing business planning and all high-value purchasing and contracting, including aircraft financing and maintenance. His work on bank financing of Jazeera’s first four aircraft – a US$150 million Traditional/Islamic financing facility negotiated with European and Kuwaiti banks – was recognised by industry awards, winning Aircraft Finance Journal’s ‘Most Innovative Deal of the Year;’ and Jane’s Transport Finance ‘Long Term Aircraft Finance Deal of the Year – Middle East 2005.’
In his earlier career, Iain rose within First Choice Holidays plc, starting as Head of Financial Management at Air 2000. After involvement in the acquisition of Unijet plc by First Choice, he became Finance Director of Unijet and the Finance Director of First Choice Airways, where he led a successful £40 million restructuring and profit improvement plan, following the events of September 11.
Nyras undertakes major business restructuring and transaction assignments for a wide range of airlines, airport groups, aviation services companies and industry investors. The company is based in the City of London and operates around the world.
For further information, contact:
Tony Cocklin
Nyras
40 Queen Street
London EC4R 1DD
Tel: +44 (0)20 7651 0780
Mob: +44 (0)7786 968956
Email: tony.cocklin@nyrascapital.com
Web: www.nyras.co.uk
Nyras fast track expansion continues 24th May 2010
‘More senior industry figures join the team’
London, May 24, 2010: Nyras, the aviation consultancy and investment company, continues its business expansion programme with the appointment of four new senior associates.
All respected senior industry figures, they are:
Iain May, former Chief Executive of the Bland Group travel and transport conglomerate;
Tom Murphy, former Senior Vice President, Industry, Distribution and Financial Services, for the International Air Transport Association (IATA);
Graham Hill, the internationally-acclaimed customer relations management (CRM) expert; and
Stuart Schofield, formerly Technical Director for British Airways franchise partner, GB Airways; Engineering Director with British Midland Airways (bmi); and interim Chief Engineer with easyJet.
These moves follow the recent appointment of former Virgin Blue Airline director, David Huttner, as Senior Vice President.
Nyras Chief Executive, Richard Davey, said: “The new appointments mark a further, important step forward on our fast-track business expansion programme. These senior industry figures will bring top-level expertise and experience in their respective fields to the service of our clients. At the same time, with Tom Murphy located in Switzerland and Graham Hill in Germany, they also extend our geographic spread.”
Nyras now has a world-wide network of 21 Senior Associates supporting its core, City of London-based headquarters team. They are strategically located in the UK, Ireland, continental Europe, Scandinavia, North America and the Asia/Pacific region.
For further information, please contact:
Tony Cocklin
NYRAS
40 Queen Street
London EC4R 1HN
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)207 651 0780
Mob: +44 (0)7786 968956
E-mail: tony.cocklin@nyrascapital.com
Web: www.nyras.co.uk.
Nyras names new senior vice president 12th April 2010
David Huttner appointment emphasises commitment to business growth’
London, April 12, 2010: Nyras, the international aviation advisory and investment company, has
appointed former Virgin Blue Airlines director, David Huttner, as Senior Vice President, with special responsibilities for business development and project management.
A US citizen now based in Belgium, David founded Planely Spoken, an aviation and tourism consultancy in 2005 following his career with the Virgin Group. The activities of Planely Spoken will be integrated with the expanded Nyras organisation.
Announcing the appointment, Nyras Chief Executive, Richard Davey, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome David Huttner to the Nyras team. His proven expertise and experience at top management levels in international air transport – especially in the low-cost carrier sector – will bring significant added value to the business and our clients.’
‘This appointment clearly emphasises our commitment to a continuing strategy for successful business development by attracting some of the finest talent available in the global aviation industry. He will work closely with me in taking Nyras forward as we continue to grow our business.’
‘David joins at a time of significant change to the structure of the air transport industry. Since Nyras brokered the acquisition of GB Airways by easyJet in 2007/8, we have continued to work with clients on the convergence of low cost carriers seeking to trade up and traditional full service airlines aiming for best practice and cost-efficiency. David will help considerably in these projects.’
Before forming Planely Spoken, David had spent nine years with the Virgin Group, initially with Virgin Express in Europe and latterly with Virgin Blue in Australia where he was one of the original founders of the airline and a member of its executive team. After graduating from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, in 1988, he began working life in the maritime and fuel industries, serving with a number of major companies in the US and the United Arab Emirates.
David joined Virgin Express Airlines in Brussels in 1996 as an MBA Intern (gaining his degree at
INSEAD in France) and rose through various positions to become Deputy Director of Sales and Marketing.
In 2000, he was appointed Head of Commercial for Virgin Blue Airlines, becoming one of the three founding officers of the Virgin Group’s new Australian venture. He went on to lead strategy and communication and, subsequently, international development activities for the carrier.
With his Planely Spoken enterprise, David has undertaken business consultancy projects for a range of major aviation industry clients, including Navitaire, Macquarie Airports, Jersey Airport, Vueling Airlines, Virgin Group and Oman Airports. Planely Spoken has also been commissioned to work on aviation issues for the IFC (World Bank Group).
For further information, please contact:
Tony Cocklin
NYRAS
40 Queen Street
London EC4R 1HN
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)207 651 0780
Mob: +44 (0)7786 968956
E-mail: tony.cocklin@nyrascapital.com
Web: www.nyras.co.uk