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ECS Group has appointed Francisco Hernandez as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Americas, strengthening its regional leadership structure as it advances its global transformation of the general sales and service agent (GSA) business model.
Hernandez will work closely with Joao Ferreira, Chief Commercial Officer – Americas, to build a more integrated regional organisation that can scale across markets while preserving local expertise, customer relationships and service quality.
Having spent 16 years with ECS Group, Hernandez brings extensive experience across its US operations, including commercial activities, customer service, operational delivery and airline partnerships. In his new role, he will oversee regional coordination and operational execution of the Group’s Americas strategy, with priorities spanning stronger airline partnerships, flexible customer solutions and the integration of digital capabilities.
Jean Ceccaldi, Chief Executive Officer of ECS Group, said the appointment supports the Group’s ambition to combine digital capabilities with human expertise to strengthen commercial resilience and growth. He highlighted Hernandez’s contribution to building the company’s US airline portfolio and his understanding of CargoTech’s digital capabilities as key strengths for the role.
Hernandez’s immediate focus will be to bring teams across the Americas closer together, improve coordination and establish a consistent operating rhythm across the region. Greater sharing of market intelligence, coordinated key-account management and the development of cross-border and interline flows are expected to help local teams deliver faster, more tailored solutions across the US, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.
“Getting the Americas to operate as one connected network, will open up many opportunities and offer far greater customer value,” Hernandez said, emphasising the importance of team alignment, clear accountability, consistent performance management and faster escalation and decision-making.
Digital transformation will also remain central to the regional strategy, supporting improvements in productivity, responsiveness and operational decision-making. By combining local market knowledge with coordinated execution and the wider Group’s capabilities, ECS Group aims to deliver a more connected and consistent service experience for airline partners and customers across the Americas.
Jettainer has appointed Pinar Meitzner as Managing Director of Jettainer Americas, marking a leadership transition as the company continues to pursue growth opportunities across North and South America. She succeeds Shailendra Kothari, who is set to retire at the end of the year after nearly seven years with the company. Meitzner will lead Jettainer’s regional activities, working closely with customers and partners to strengthen relationships and support the company’s continued development across the Americas. She joins Jettainer from DO & CO, where she served as Head of Commercials US. Earlier in her career, she held several leadership positions at LSG Sky Chefs in Europe and the United States. Her experience spans airline relationships, international customer network development and business growth in competitive aviation markets. Dr. Jan-Wilhelm Breithaupt, CEO of Jettainer, said Meitzner’s airline expertise, international network and understanding of the industry would support the company’s regional ambitions. He added that Jettainer continues to see attractive opportunities across North and South America and remains committed to strengthening its presence in the region. Meitzner said she was pleased to join Jettainer and lead its Americas business, highlighting the importance of reliable partnerships in the aviation industry. She looks forward to working with the company’s team, customers and partners to strengthen relationships and drive business growth. Leadership Transition builds on Regional Foundations Kothari has played a key role in developing Jettainer’s business across the Americas and strengthening customer relationships throughout the region. His retirement will conclude a tenure during which he helped establish a foundation for the company’s continued growth. Breithaupt thanked Kothari for his commitment and contribution, recognising his role in developing the regional business and preparing it for the next phase. Reflecting on his tenure, Kothari said he was proud of the achievements and relationships built with customers, colleagues and industry partners. He expressed confidence in Meitzner and the regional team to build on this foundation and continue advancing Jettainer Americas. The appointment brings a new leader to Jettainer’s Americas operations as the company focuses on customer partnerships and further business development across the region.
Awery Aviation Software has appointed Cornelia Korsch as Global Development Director for Awery and CargoBooking, strengthening its leadership team as it seeks to expand the digital air cargo quoting and booking platform’s airline network and adoption among freight forwarders. In her new role, Korsch will focus on bringing additional airlines and cargo capacity onto CargoBooking, while driving greater adoption of the platform across the forwarding community. The appointment comes as digital distribution continues to gain importance in connecting airline capacity with freight forwarder demand. The move follows Awery’s recent appointment of Gianluca Marcangelo as Executive Vice President of Global Sales, further reinforcing the company’s commercial leadership as it expands its global footprint. “I’m looking forward to bringing my experience with airlines and technology providers to CargoBooking and working across the air cargo community to help them reach more customers and maximise the opportunities that digital distribution can offer,” said Korsch. Korsch brings more than 30 years of air cargo experience spanning airline sales, technology and business development. Her career includes global airline partnership roles at WebCargo by Freightos and AirBridgeCargo Airlines, alongside more than two decades with Cargolux Airlines, giving her extensive experience across both the airline and technology sides of the air freight ecosystem. “This is an exciting period of growth for CargoBooking, and we’re delighted to have Cornelia on board to support and further drive that momentum,” said Vitaly Smilianets, Founder and CEO, Awery. “Cornelia understands what airlines need from a digital booking platform, and that insight will be invaluable as we bring more carriers onto CargoBooking, giving forwarders greater choice and access to more capacity.”
Celcius Logistics, a leading 3PL logistics provider, has appointed Ganesh Satam and Yugal K. Agrawal as Chief Business Officers for life sciences and healthcare and operations pan-India, respectively. This strategic move aims to bolster the company's presence in the cold chain sector and drive innovative logistics solutions. Ganesh Satam brings extensive experience in logistics and supply chain management, having previously held significant roles at DHL Supply Chain and other prominent firms. Yugal K. Agrawal boasts a strong background in transportation management, regional operations, and business leadership. In his new role, Satam will focus on driving sales, forging strategic partnerships, and spearheading business development efforts in the pharmaceuticals, life sciences, and healthcare sectors. His goal is to position Celcius Logistics as a leading provider of temperature-controlled logistics solutions. Meanwhile, Agrawal will oversee the company's nationwide operations, ensuring streamlined processes and operational excellence across India. The appointments of Satam and Agrawal are expected to strengthen Celcius Logistics' market position and enhance its ability to deliver reliable and efficient cold chain logistics services. This move underscores the company's commitment to growth and innovation in the logistics industry.
