TIACA: The four corners of the air cargo earth

TIACA today (30MAR21) announced the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors, continuing its restructuring strategy to become a body that best serves its air cargo
members. The latest appointments reflect the diversity and broad scope of an ever-developing industry, and bode well for professional, comprehensive representation across the board.

Four new members of the TIACA Board of Directors. Image: TIACA/CFG
Four new members of the TIACA Board of Directors. Image: TIACA/CFG

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Liana Coyne, Coyne Airways; Bob Chi, SATS Ltd; Manel Galindo, WebCargo; and Hendrik Leyssens, Swissport, are the four new faces now on TIACA’s website. According to the press release, they were
all “vetted by the Executive Committee to ensure that the candidates not only share the association’s vision for the air cargo industry but are also in line with the mandate that was set by
our Trustees to have a Board that fairly represents the membership by industry sector and region.”

Steven Polmans, TIACA Chairman, declared: “The last year has shown the world the value of the entire air cargo supply chain and what can be achieved when organizations collaborate effectively
with a common purpose. TIACA is the only global association that encompasses the entire supply chain within its membership and we are proud to have such a representative Board steering the
Association in tackling the critical issues the industry faces.”

Airlines and Digitalization
With Liana Coyne, Chief Operating Officer of Coyne Airways, based in Dubai, UAE, TIACA gains the expertise not only of woman well-versed in all aspects of running a non-asset-based cargo airline
focused on niche operations to off-main-grid destinations, but also someone whose finger is on the pulse of digital developments. Liana Coyne recently also joined CargoAi’s Board of Advisors, for
example. Her law background will also prove an additional asset. Speaking on her appointment, she stated: “I am thrilled to join the Board of TIACA. TIACA is in a unique position to represent
and advocate on behalf of the air cargo industry, at a time when its importance has never been so underscored.”

Speaking of digital, Manel Galindo, co-founder of the freight sales and booking platform, WebCargo, is a digital air cargo pioneer. For more than a decade, he has pushed for the use of technology
to improve air cargo process efficiency beyond the initial rate management focus. His combination of passion for sales with in-depth technical expertise, quickly led to the upscaling of WebCargo
and its acquisition by Freightos, where the software suite is continuously being expanded. A familiar figure on the board of a number of cargo associations, he understands the interface issues
between airlines and forwarders, and is often called to speak at cargo events. Manel Galindo commented: “True change isn’t about one company. It’s about the entire industry identifying trends
and adapting, together. I’m thrilled to join TIACA’s board to help do just that, collaborating with other players from across the value chain to turn digitalization into an asset.”

Handling the Ground Handling side of things
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to be part of the TIACA Board, especially during this time, where air cargo supply chain is certainly playing a pivotal role in the recovery of the
aviation industry. While the Air Freight industry transforms itself through digitization and in the face of unprecedented growth in the eCommerce, pharma & perishables trades flows, I believe
TIACA will provide a good platform for open dialogue amongst key stakeholders on all matters affecting our industry. I look forward to the opportunity to engage with partners in topics that are
pertinent to all of us. Thank you,”
said Bob Chi, Chief Operating Officer, Gateway Services of SATS. Both a seasoned Board member, aviation, and cargo veteran with more than 30 years of
experience across the industry, from passenger, inflight catering, and security services, baggage and ramp handling, along with sales and marketing, across Asia and the Middle East, Bob Chi has
covered everything from low-cost carrier operations through to e-commerce, and has managed six airfreight terminals (including an Express Courier Centre, an automated eCommerce AirHub Centre and
a state-of-the-art Perishable Handling Centre), with the total handling capacity 2.1 million tonnes per annum.

Hendrik Leyssens, VP Global Operations, Cargo of Swissport International, complements Bob Chi’s ground handling experience, bringing a European ground handling background to TIACA. He had this to
say about this appointment: “I’m very excited to join the TIACA board and looking forward to working with all board members and Glyn. TIACA is placed exceptionally well to unite and support
all stakeholders that want to make a difference in our industry.”
Leyssens stated.
“The organization has proven to be more relevant than ever after in the past year and I’m thrilled I can contribute to its’ further success.” Leyssens, who began his aviation &
logistics career in Brussels, also with a mixed passenger and cargo background, joined Swissport in 2012, and has not only been instrumental in putting cargo on the Belgian map, he has also held
a number of global operations responsibilities with regard to improving cargo products, standards, processes, systems and projects.

Polmans concluded “As part of TIACA’s Transformation Program, we found it imperative that our Board represents the entire supply chain, and we are working to ensure that this mandate is
fulfilled. These new Board members fill roles within our Board that have been underrepresented in the past. We look forward to the insight and expertise each of these industry leaders will bring
to the table. Whilst our work to diversify our Board is far from over, we feel we have made a solid start.”
It looks like a promising foundation.

Brigitte Gledhill

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Source: Cargoforwarder

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