Air Partner promotes Celine Shabbas to Director of UK Trading

Thursday 24th June, 2010

Air Partner plc has promoted Celine Shabbas to Director of UK Trading, just three months after she was invited to join the company’s Group Operating Board.

Celine has taken over the role from Philip Mathews who has moved to the USA to focus on this key growth area for Air Partner’s business. As President of Air Partner Inc. he is now based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with responsibility for executing the Group’s growth strategy in North America.

Celine joined Air Partner in 2002 as a member of the in-house 24-hr Operations team based at the Group’s London-Gatwick headquarters. In 2004 she was selected to undertake an intensive two-year internal cross-division management trainee course. In May 2006, Celine was appointed European Marketing Manager and in November 2009 was promoted to Director of Group Marketing with overall responsibility for marketing and PR across Air Partner’s 20 offices worldwide.

Mark Briffa, Air Partner CEO, said: “In her new people-focussed role, Celine’s main areas of responsibility are service delivery, client retention, new business generation and staff progression. She is a popular and dedicated team player with a strong track record at Air Partner and will bring a fresh business perspective to the Board.”

Celine and Philip’s roles are part of a key restructuring of the Group’s senior management team which is committed to building and implementing the short to medium term Group business strategy. “Celine and Philip’s input will play a significant part in Air Partner’s future development decisions,” added Mark.

Celine graduated in Medical Biochemistry (BSc Hons) from Glasgow University in 1998 and spent two years working in the science industry prior to switching career to follow her growing interest in aviation, accepting a role in air traffic control at London Biggin Hill Airport. While there, Celine embarked on her Private Pilot’s Licence.

British-born Philip Mathews graduated from Buckingham University in 1989 with a BA (Hons) in Politics, Economics and Law and has worked in the aviation industry for more than 20 years. He joined Air Partner in 2002 and was appointed President of the US business in 2003. In 2008 he returned to the UK to head the UK trading division before returning to the US in May this year following the management restructure. Immediately prior to joining Air Partner, Philip was Vice President of a leading US charter broker, heading both US and UK passenger charter operations.

About Air Partner

Air Partner is a world-class provider of aviation services to industry, commerce, governments and individuals worldwide. The company has earned global recognition as a leading aircraft charter broker and organises ad hoc charters of aircraft of every size for any reason. Its core divisions comprise Air Partner Private Jets, Air Partner Commercial Jets and Air Partner Freight. Air Partner Private Jets offers on-demand charter and the company’s unique pre-paid JetCard scheme. The Commercial Jets division charters large airliners with 20 to 500 seats to move groups of every size. Air Partner Freight charters aircraft of every size to fly any cargo anywhere, at any time. With its headquarters in the UK, Air Partner operates 24/7 year-round with 20 offices spanning Europe, North America, the Far East and Middle East. The Group was formed in 1961, is fully listed on the London Stock Exchange, is debt free and had £14.7m net cash at the end of the half year to 31 January. Air Partner is the only company in the aviation industry to hold a Royal Warrant, a globally recognised mark of excellence, as Supplier of Aircraft Charter to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

www.airpartner.com