“Ambitious” BACA appoints new CEO

“Ambitious” plans to expand the Air Charter Association has led to the appointment of a new CEO.

Dave Edwards (pictured below), a director of and investor in Synergy Aviation, Oaklands Global, Flying Support, and Web Manuals International, takes up his part-time role today (23 October) as part of BACA’s strategy to drive itself forward.

Two other appointments have been announced: Madeleine Puzey, who has been promoted to business and events manager, and Nicki Baynes, who has been appointed to a new administrative role.

A BACA spokesman said: “BACA has embarked upon an ambitious strategy to increase value to its members and to represent the air charter broking market in the aviation sector. The initial success of these developments has seen a number of projects commenced and delivered, and BACA has now created a platform from which to really drive forwards. The BACA Council is populated with volunteers, many of whom have busy day jobs. It is therefore an important step for the Association to appoint executive support to help increase the pace of change.”

During an “outstanding” career in aviation, Edwards has led Qatar Executive (the business aviation division of Qatar Airways) and has been MD, Middle East and Asia, and group general manager at Gama Aviation. “He brings a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise to the role,” said the spokesman.

Edwards described the opportunity to join BACA and help to reenergise it as “one I found difficult to turn down”. He added: “BACA is… increasingly… revisiting its roots at the heart of the air charter broking world and investing significantly in conferences, in training, in parliamentary and regulatory authority representation, and working hard for the interests of its members and the larger broking community.

“With the support of a very keen and enthusiastic Council, I’m really looking forward to the opportunity and challenge of using my experience, alongside my existing roles within the heart of the aviation industry, to develop our Association further on its future strategy to bring added value and additional support to our members.”

BACA chairman Richard Mumford welcomed Edwards to the new role and hoped that its creation would prove to be a “major step forward” for the Association, which had enjoyed a fantastic year with record membership and a number of successful events.

“This proves the potential of BACA to grow, and this appointment really gives us the resource to do so,” he added.