Despite the challenges of border closures and flight groundings, the Asia-Pacific region remains one of the most important and dynamic markets for MRO. In this webinar, our expert panel will discuss growth prospects and challenges for the sector as airlines resume flights in earnest and recovery begins. What opportunities, for instance, do the rapid growth in international e-commerce, the arrival of latest-generation aircraft, and the emergence of new technologies promise for MRO providers and the wider industry?

Webinar moderator: Murdo Morrison, Head of Strategic Content, FlightGlobal

Speakers

Tom De Geytere, Chief Sales Officer, AJW Group

Tom De Geytere is Chief Sales Officer for AJW Group. He oversees Product, Customer Services, Warehouse and Logistics with the aim to develop unique solutions to suit the creative and diverse business models of airlines, lessors and OEM's. In addition to his operational roles, Tom also heads IT and the digital transformation projects at AJWA.

Extensive industry experience enables Tom to provide a holistic view of the airline value chain. This has been honed by executive positions in Asian and European airlines in the fields of advisory services and business development for start-ups and legacy carriers. Previously Tom was CEO at Air Via, responsible for restructuring the loss-making Bulgarian charter airline. In tandem with this role, he consulted on a variety of projects globally and across cargo, legacy and start-up airlines.

Tom is fluent in English, French, Dutch and conversational German. He has an MBA and has served in the Belgian Airforce as an officer and pilot.

Mahesh Kumar, CEO, Asia Digital Engineering (ADE)

Mahesh Kumar, 37, was appointed CEO of ADE in September 2020. In this role, he leads the

transformation of AirAsia’s Engineering department into a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) service provider driven by data and technology for all commercial airlines in the region.

Prior to this appointment, Mahesh was the Head of Fleet & Technical Asset Management at AirAsia. During that time, AirAsia sealed two major aircraft portfolio deals with BBAM and Castlelake LP for a combined value of USD3.6 billion which won the 2018 Air Finance Journal Award and 2019 APAC Airline Economics Award. In 2015, he was appointed as a pioneering Senior Vice President, Technical of the newly set up Asia Aviation Capital Limited, the aircraft leasing arm of AirAsia.

Mahesh joined AirAsia’s Engineering department in 2009 and since then has been involved in various engineering projects including defining and selection of aircraft and engine type,

setting up AirAsia India Engineering and transforming Zest Airways into AirAsia Philippines.

Mahesh holds a Bachelor’s in Aeronautical Engineering.

Mahesh Kumar CEO of Asia Digital Engineering ADE.jpg

Mary Ellen Jones, Vice President, Asia-Pacific Customer Business, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines

Mary Ellen Jones leads Asia-Pacific commercial engine sales and customer engagement for Pratt & Whitney. She assumed this role in 2018 after spending the previous two years as Vice President Sales – The Americas for Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. Before her sales leadership roles Mary Ellen served as Vice President - Commercial Engines Customer Support at P&W.

Mary Ellen was previously president of the Engine Alliance, the 50/50 joint venture between GE Aviation and Pratt & Whitney that manufactures and supports the GP7200 engine for the Airbus A380 aircraft. She has also led Pratt & Whitney’s Commercial Engines and Global Services Marketing organization and directed P&W’s operations at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France.

Mary Ellen serves on the board of the Connecticut Airport Authority, is past president of the Wings Club Foundation and a member of the International Aviation Women’s Association advisory board.

Richard Kendall, Chief Commercial Officer, HAECO Group

Richard Kendall was appointed Chief Commercial Officer for the HAECO Group in February 2021, having previously been Group Director responsible for its Airframe Services businesses since 2019. Prior to that he was CEO of HAECO’s subsidiary in the USA and of its engine overhaul joint venture (with Rolls-Royce), HAESL. He has worked for HAECO’s parent company, the Swire group, for 37 years in Hong Kong, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Japan, the United States, Singapore and New Zealand. He holds a Master’s degree in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford, and is a Fellow of both the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineering.