BOC Aviation Announces Board And Senior Management Changes

BOC Aviation Limited (“BOC Aviation” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce changes to its Board of Directors and senior management due to retirement.

1.         Vice Chairman and Deputy Managing Director

Mr. Wang Jian will retire from his role as an Executive Director, the Vice Chairman of the Board, Deputy Managing Director and a member of the Strategy and Budget Committee on 31 December 2019. Mr. Wang joined BOC Aviation in this capacity in June 2017, having been previously a member of the Board of Directors between 2006 and 2012.

Replacing Mr. Wang as Executive Director, the Vice Chairman of the Board, Deputy Managing Director and a member of the Strategy and Budget Committee from 1 January 2020 is Mdm. Zhang Xiaolu. Mdm. Zhang, aged 52, is to be responsible for overseeing the Board Secretariat and Procurement Departments. She joined Bank of China in July 1990 and held various positions, including serving as Senior Management Executive Assistant, Executive Office at the Head Office from October 2000 to October 2008 and Deputy CEO and COO at Bank of China (Suisse) S.A. from November 2008 to September 2012. From October 2012 to April 2014, she was the Executive Director and Special Advisor of Bank Julius Baer H.O. in Zurich. Prior to joining the Company, Mdm. Zhang was the Deputy General Manager of Bank of China Luxembourg Branch and Bank of China (Luxembourg) S.A. from April 2014 to December 2019.

Mdm. Zhang graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in International Leasing and Foreign Trade Accounting from Beijing Union University in 1990, a Bachelor’s degree in English Language from Beijing Foreign Study University in 2006 and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in 2000.

“We are very grateful to Wang Jian for his service to our company both in his recent management role and as a director and wish him all the best in the future,” said Robert Martin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased to welcome Mdm. Zhang Xiaolu to our management team, where her experience and skills will further enhance and add diversity to our senior management’s capabilities.”

2.         Deputy Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Phang Thim Fatt will step down from his role as Deputy Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer on 30 September 2020 and will remain with the Company to ensure a smooth transition of his duties until his retirement on 31 December 2020.

He will be replaced by Mr. Steven Townend, who will be appointed as Deputy Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer with effect from 1 October 2020. Mr. Steven Townend, aged 50, currently serves as the Company’s Chief Commercial Officer (Europe, Americas and Africa). Mr. Townend joined the Company in January 2001 and was appointed as the Chief Commercial Officer in July 2004. He is currently based in London and oversees all revenue activities in Europe, Americas and Africa. Mr. Townend will relocate to Singapore when he relinquishes his current role and assumes his new role as Deputy Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, where he will oversee the Finance, Treasury, Tax and Risk Departments.

Mr. Townend has more than 28 years of banking and aircraft leasing experience, having previously worked with DVB Bank and NatWest Markets. Mr. Townend graduated from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom with a Bachelor’s Degree in Banking and Finance.

“Thim Fatt has been involved with the Company since its establishment and we thank him for his significant contributions to the success of BOC Aviation and to Singapore’s development as an aviation finance hub,” said Robert Martin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. “At the same time, we are delighted to welcome Steven back to our Singapore head office, where he previously worked for 10 years as Chief Commercial Officer.”