BOC Aviation is pleased to announce the official opening of the new London office, headed by Steven Townend, deputy managing director and chief commercial officer for Europe, Americas and Africa. 

 

Townend, who has been in charge of the revenue side of the company since 2004, has more than 20 years of aviation finance and leasing experience. He will oversee all senior relationships within Europe, Americas and Africa, and have primary responsibility for airline leasing and sales in these regions. 

Townend will also lead the company’s strategy for developing capital market products for both airline customers and third-party investors. This includes building the company’s managed aircraft business through the sale of portfolios of aircraft into the public asset-backed securities (ABS) markets. 

To expand BOC Aviation’s capabilities in these areas, the company has appointed Matthew Baumgarth as senior vice-president, capital markets. He brings with him 17 years of experience in the aviation finance industry with North American airlines and investment banks. He joins Tim Pickston, senior vice-president for aircraft sales, to be based in London and will report to Townend.

"BOC Aviation intends to maintain leadership in the global aircraft leasing market, with a focus on building up competencies in the aircraft operating leasing business to further grow the company in breadth and depth," said Robert Martin, managing director and chief executive officer. "With the opening up of the London office, we are building a core European-based team to diversify into investment products for existing and potential investors."

BOC Aviation is the leading Asia-based aircraft leasing company with a portfolio of 248 owned and managed aircraft operated by 58 airlines worldwide, and another 194 aircraft on firm order, as of 30 September 2014. The company has one of the youngest fleets in the industry with an average owned aircraft age of less than four years.

 

BOC Aviation, owned by Bank of China, is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Dublin, London and Seattle.