Asia Aviation Capital announces appointment of Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Commercial Officer

AirAsia Berhad's aircraft leasing unit Asia Aviation Capital Ltd (AACL) today announced the appointment of Harry Forsythe as its Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Commercial Officer effective 1 November 2016.

Forsythe, a British and Australian dual citizen, has comprehensive knowledge of aircraft leasing with over 30 years of global expertise in sales and marketing across dry and wet leasing, sale-and-leaseback and aircraft sales in the Asia Pacific and the US.

He was most recently Managing Director of dotAero, which provides representation and access to expertise and solutions in aircraft remarketing, lease transactions, sales, sale-and-leasebacks, asset management and aircraft acquisitions.

Before joining dotAero in December 2015, Forsythe was Executive Vice President of Marketing at Macquarie AirFinance, heading the marketing team with responsibility for the company's airline relationships globally.

Prior to that, as Macquarie AirFinance Vice President of Marketing for Asia Pacific, he established the Asia Pacific regional office in Singapore, with sales responsibility for Australia, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Korea and Malaysia.

Forsythe has also held senior roles at AWAS and also worked at Saab Aircraft and Bombardier in technical and sales capacities.

He holds an engineering diploma from Ulster College in Northern Ireland, UK.

AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes said, "With Harry joining Stephane and Simon, AACL now has a great management platform comprising highly-regarded professionals in the aircraft leasing industry. We will continue to bring the best minds to the leasing unit as we continue to build the business."

AACL President and Chief Executive Officer Stephane Daillencourt said, "We are delighted to welcome Harry to the team. He has more than three decades of experience in marketing aircraft in Asia, Australia and the US and brings with him a comprehensive knowledge of the dynamics and drivers of aircraft leasing and extensive range of high-level contacts in airlines, lessors and OEMs. He will be invaluable for developing AACL's business relationships."

Harry Forsythe said, "I'm very pleased to accept the position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Commercial Officer. The opportunities for commercial growth that exist for AACL are great and I am eager to develop effective strategies to grow the business."