Niall Olver, CEO of Execujet Aviation Group, Talks to Jet

WINGS ExecuJet provides global FBO services through its bases in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Zurich, Berlin, Paris Valencia and Dubai EXECUJET AVIATION GROUP ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS NIALL OLVER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE EXECUJET AVIATION GROUP, SHARES HIS JOURNEY WITH THE coMPANY AND WHAT HE IS PLANNING FOR THE YEARS AHEAD. Q: You started in aviation by selling Learjets. How did this foster your career? I started in aviation when ExecuJet was embryonic. In the beginning, we not only sold aircraft, but also turnkey solutions. This meant that the learning curve was steep, and the lessons learnt served us well as we entered new international markets as the fundamentals are the same. Q: In 1994 you took over ExecuJet’s operations in Johannesburg. What was the private aviation situation like back then in South Africa? The South African market was, and still is, surprisingly active. At the time, Bombardier’s market share was low, and the ethics of the industry at large were not great. We have been fortunate to have been instrumental in improving both and, in the course of which, learnt a lot and built some life-long relationships. 26 JETGALA Q: Looking towards newer markets, how is the scene shaping up for ExecuJet in the Asia-Pacific, and why is it so? ExecuJet has been operating in the Asia-Pacific since 2000 when we opened our first facility in Sydney. Since then, we have expanded our services to Melbourne (Australia), Wellington (New Zealand), Beijing (China), Tianjin (China), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Singapore, identifying the increased demand for business aviation over the last decade. Last year “WE ARE conTINUOUSLY LOOKING we also segmented the region into Asia and Australasia, allowing us to cater to AT NEW MARKETS IN WHICH WE the growth in market demand. China CAN OPERATE AND TRY TO PLACE is a key market to watch right now and OURSELVES IN AREAS THAT WILL we are looking forward to having a fully functional maintenance, aircraft BRING VALUE TO OUR CLIENTs” management and charter facility in Tianjin over the next period. We are Q: How do you personally get feedback also in the process of expanding our from ExecuJet customers? Melbourne facility, which is due for We have a close relationship with our completion later this year. clients and make it a priority to listen to them and identify their needs. All Q: What has been the biggest of our clients have direct contact with challenge in your career at ExecuJet a member of our team and we strive to and how have you dealt with it? provide transparency in the services that The biggest challenge has been we provide — to the extent that (when) I recognising that whilst corporate get customer feedback directly, I always aviation demands are not technically deal with it personally. dissimilar, the cultural complexities of implementation in different parts Q: How have you seen the private of the world are. We have been aviation scene change over the years, reasonably successful to date, not least and how did customer expectations because we have appreciated the multi- change with it? cultural diversity and have managed The industry is becoming more to weld a multi-disciplined business commoditised, with customers focused Niall Olver, CEO of ExecuJet into one corporate culture and value increasingly on service (rather) than Aviation Group system. Our people are great. hardware. I believe that the industry >> JETGALA 27 WINGS “I BELIEVE THAT IT FIRST AND FOREMOST HAS TO BE IMPROVEMENTS IN VALUE AND EFFICIENCY OF THE AIRCRAFT THEMSELves” >> is finally maturing and the future belongs to integrated transportation solutions with hardware becoming more of a key hygiene factor, much as is exhibited today by the airlines. Q: Please update us on ExecuJet’s UP CLOSE locations and FBOs, fleet size and composition. ExecuJet is currently operating in What is one thing that ExecuJet intends to open an FBO 19 locations worldwide throughout in Melbourne later this year surprises people about you? six regions, we have recently added That I will actually take hard Wellington, New Zealand; Tianjin, action when pushed past a China; and Valencia, Spain to our certain point. locations — with further additions Q: How is ExecuJet continuing to planned for the coming year. Within How did you earn your first expand its presence in the world? dollar? Working as a cashier our regions, we already have seven We are continuously looking at new part time when at school. operational FBOs based in Zurich, markets in which we can operate and Berlin, Paris, Dubai, Cape Town, try to place ourselves in areas that What did that teach you Johannesburg and, most recently, will bring value to our clients. The about money? Valencia. As part of our near term more locations that we operate in, the People will pay willingly only expansion plans, we are looking into easier it is for us to maintain a close if they perceive value. further FBOs in Europe and will also relationship with our customers, which open an FBO in Melbourne later this is at the forefront of our expansion What was your first love? year. We currently operate a managed strategy. Aircraft, aircraft and aircraft. fleet of approximately 150 aircraft worldwide, with the majority of these Q: What do you see as the main Name someone you admire as a hero. aircraft managed from South Africa, three drivers of private aviation in Winston Churchill, not only for Europe, Middle East and Australia. the next decade? his brilliance, but also for the This managed fleet ranges from I believe that it first and foremost has to courage of his convictions. turboprops through to large aircraft be improvements in value and efficiency including, for example, the Bombardier of the aircraft themselves. Secondly, the What is your pet peeve about Global range. proliferation of infrastructure such as flying? Indifferent staff and access to airports, and support including illogical security processes. Q: How does completions consulting maintenance and FBOs, and finally augment the ExecuJet operations and the appreciation by the financial and What do you love most about benefit clients? financing markets that corporate aviation flying? Control over one’s ExecuJet’s completions consulting is here to stay, is a responsible industry immediate destiny, along with the is part of the full service package accompanying sense of freedom. and exhibits solid fundamentals that that we offer to our clients. Over the warrants logical investment. Words to live by? Always treat years, we have expanded our business others as you would have them services based on client demand and Q: Is there anything else you want treat you. are pleased to have specialised teams to say to readers of Jetgala? that can support all areas of corporate Jetgala has a high Asian focus, and What have you learned to value aviation, including this aspect. although it is all to easy to simply most in life? reiterate the mantra that Asian growth Relationships, and the ability to Q: Now that Grob Aerospace is no will be immense, I do believe that this look beyond one’s own needs. more, what is happening with its undisputed growth will provide the otherwise groundbreaking SPn light platform for the entire corporate aviation What do you do for relaxation? jet? Will it disappear into aviation Work! But I would prefer more industry to re-invent itself, finally time with my family, to fly and to history, like the Emivest SJ30? throwing off the remaining shackles experience remote nature. I am afraid that I am not presently at of unprofessionalism by becoming far liberty to comment on this, suffice to more innovative, efficient and service say that I would watch this space! oriented. 28 JETGALA.

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