AerSale Management Team
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Nick Finazzo has more than 25 years of experience in aircraft leasing, finance, maintenance, and airline operations. Early in his career, Mr. Finazzo established an aircraft leasing company which would eventually evolve into commuter air carrier Southern Express Airways. In 1992, Mr. Finazzo joined International Air Leases as Vice President, where in 1994 he would be promoted to the position of Corporate General Counsel. Mr. Finazzo went on to join AeroThrust as its Vice President and General Counsel, prior to leaving to become cofounder and Chief Executive Officer of AeroTurbine, Inc. in 1997. Mr. Finazzo holds a JD from the University of Miami School of Law and a BS in Political Science from the University of Michigan. Mr. Finazzo also holds an FAA Airframe and Powerplant license. |
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Bob Nichols has over 25 years experience in aircraft engine sales, leasing, and maintenance. Having initially joined Aviall in 1982 to assume various roles in the administration of JT8D and CFM56-3 powerplant maintenance. He left in 1988 to serve as Braniff Airways’ Manager of Powerplant and Warranty Administration in the oversight of outsourced JT8D, V2500 and Tay-650 engine maintenance. Nichols later assumed the position of Director of Engine Maintenance Sales for Greenwich Air Services, prior to joining AeroThrust, where he would assume the role of Vice President of Engine Sales and Leasing. Mr. Nichols left to co-found AeroTurbine in 1997, where he served as Chief Operating Officer since its operating commencement. Mr. Nichols is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas where he earned a BS in Business Administration.
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Global Aircraft Trading |
Bill Kmiotek began his aviation career in 1978 as a purchasing specialist for AAR Corp. based in Chicago, IL. Kmiotek would come to service in numerous increasingly responsible roles with AAR over the ensuing 30 year period, including VP Worldwide Sales for AAR Allen Aircraft and VP Aircraft Trading where he would preside over a $250MM managed portfolio. Kmiotek would eventually leave AAR to become part of Aircastle’s (Fortress Investment Group) founding aircraft marketing team in 2004, where he was instrumental in the procurement and placement of approximately 140 aircraft valued in excess of $4 Billion, while focusing on managing key airline relationships around the globe. Bill joined AerSale in February 2011 to serve as VP Aircraft Trading in the placement of aircraft with airline and cargo operators, and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from Hofstra University, NY. |
CRAIG WRIGHT Vice President A/C Acquisitions and Marketing |
Craig Wright has over 20 years of experience in technical data and financial analysis, including approximately10 years in commercial aircraft leasing and portfolio management. He began his aviation career at GATX Capital where he was involved in pricing, deal structuring, portfolio management and trading. Following the acquisition of GATX Air by Macquarie AirFinance, his primary roles included marketing, acquisitions/dispositions, and business development. Mr. Wright is a graduate of the University of Washington where he earned a BS in Civil/Structural Engineering, and holds a Masters of International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. |
Engine Trading |
Tom McFarland has over thirty years of aviation experience, including, powerplant technical management, MRO, engine sales & leasing. After being honorably-discharged from service in the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, Tom joined Eastern Airlines’ powerplant production management team. He eventually went on to accept increasingly responsible career roles in powerplant technical management, customer service, and materials sales & support in the greater Miami area, including AeroThrust, International Aircraft Associates, and Avteam. Most recently Tom served as V.P. Marketing & Sales for GA Telesis, prior to accepting his current role as AerSale’s head of global engine marketing. Tom holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management Technology from Western Michigan University, in addition to an FAA airframe, powerplant, and commercial pilot’s license. |
Airframe Sales |
Dwayne has more than 25 years of airframe materials technical and marketing expertise. Dwayne began his career learning aircraft materials warehousing operations and airframe disassembly logistics, with Miami aircraft specialist International Airline Support Group. He built on his technical foundation in airframe materials processing to eventually assume the role of Vice President, Airframe Parts Sales. Dwayne was later given the opportunity to join airframe material MRO specialist Atlas Aerospace Accessories as Director of Sales, where he would gain further valuable insight in MRO operations in the development of new product-line business with numerous world-class airlines. He later went on to assume the role of Director of Airframe Part Sales for GA Telesis, where he was instrumental in development of strategic airframe acquisition and sales programs. Dwayne joined AerSale in May of 2010 to establish the company’s international airframe materials sales and marketing organization. |
Materials |
Bill Thompson has more 25 years experience in providing aftermarket sales and support services to the aviation industry. For the past 10 years, Mr. Thompson has been actively purchasing engines and providing cost effective material solutions to customers worldwide; first as Vice President at the establishment of GE Aviation Materials and most recently as
Senior Vice President for commercial engine programs at NTE Aviation. Previous
assignments also include serving as JT3D/JT8D Manager of Customer Service at Aviall, Vice
President T56 Program encompassing foreign military sales and program management for
National Airrmotive, and as Sales Director for corporate engine sales and services at
Sabreliner Corporation. Mr. Thompson holds an MBA from the University of Dallas and a
Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Richmond. |
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Iso Nezaj has more than 25 years operations experience in aircraft maintenance & engineering administration, quality assurance, strategic planning and product development. He began his career as an aircraft mechanic at Fairchild Republic, servicing A10 aircraft, while continually broadening his technical knowledge covering Airbus, Boeing and Douglas commercial fleets in ensuing years. Iso has held numerous mid-level and senior management positions with several prestigious US airlines, leasing and aircraft heavy maintenance MRO organizations, including US Airways and Commercial Jet, Miami, FL. He most recently spear headed the development and certification of B737-300/400 Passenger to Freighter Conversion Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) modifications to meet the current FAR part 25 requirements by the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency. Iso is a graduate of the College of Aeronautics, NY, and holds an FAA Airframe and Power Plant license. |
Powerplant, Engineering, & Maintenance |
Kubit’s aviation career spans 20 years, covering numerous technical and administrative support rolls for maintenance and modification of aircraft and engines. He started as a powerplant repair engineer with American Airlines where he specialized in repair development for CF6-6/-50/-80A/-80C2 series engines. He was recruited by Sun Country Airlines in 1995 to initially serve as powerplant and APU engineer for both on-wing and shop level heavy maintenance in the technical support of their DC10 / 727 / 737NG fleets. Kubit would rise through the ranks at Sun Country to serve in several increasingly responsible capacities including, Director - Engineering and Director - Technical Materials prior to joining AerSale as VP - Powerplant Engineering and Maintenance. Tony holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburg, and a M.S. in gas turbine design from Purdue University. In recent years he has additionally served as an engineering consultant to foreign and domestic air carriers and MROs, and is a Designated Engineering Representative (FAA DER) with delegated powerplant and engine authority. |
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Ron Wolf began his aviation career in 1984, while serving in the US Army as a Turbine Engine Mechanic, where he attained an FAA airframe and powerplant license. Over the next 30 years, Ron would progress from early repair station duties, to various mid-management and senior leadership quality and safety oversight positions with such industry leaders as Volvo Aero Services, AeroTurbine, American Composites, and AAR. Throughout his career, Ron has been involved with implementing and maintaining rigorous quality standards, some of which include ISO 9001:2000, AS 9120, ISO 14001 and ASA-100. Dedicated to professional growth and industry oversight advancement, Ron joined the Quality Committee for ASA in 1997, has participated in AFRA since the inception in 2006, and recently held an elected position on its Board of Directors. |
General Counsel |
Mr. Eakins is an attorney with over 30 years of experience in the aviation industry. Prior to joining AerSale he was Vice President of Erickson Air-Crane responsible for contracts, legal and risk management. Mr. Eakins has served as Vice President, General Counsel for Southern Air Transport, Aviation Sales Company and Rotable Asset Management. He has also worked as an attorney for Polaris Aircraft Leasing, Northwest Airlines and The Garrett Corporation (later becoming part of Allied Signal Aerospace). Mr. Eakins is a member of the State Bar of California. He received a Bachelor of Law from Leeds University in England and a Master of Law from the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Eakins holds a commercial pilot certificate with instrument and multi-engine ratings. |
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Doug Meyer’s career started with a decade of public accounting experience, followed by 14 years of financial experience with Fortune 500 manufacturers. Most recently, Doug’s career included the Chief Audit Executive role for Spirit Aero Systems from 2006 - 2009. Prior that, he was with Premcor Refining & Marketing for 11 years as the Corporate Controller from 1995 - 2003 and Chief Audit Executive from 2003 - 2006. Mr. Meyer holds a B.S.B.A. degree from the University of Missouri School of Business, an MBA degree from Saint Louis University School of Business, and is a Certified Public Accountant and a member in good standing with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. |
