CHICAGO (10 January 2018) - The International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (lSTAT) is announcing the appointment of Jeff Straebler as Executive Director of the ISTAT Appraisers' Program (IAP), the industry leading certification and continuing education program for airline transport aircraft appraisal professionals.

This new dedicated full-time role was deemed essential by the ISTAT Board of Directors given the nearly 70% increase in certified Appraisers in the last five years, with 20 Candidates currently progressing towards Appraiser status. In addition, the Board seeks to further elevate the program within the aviation community.

Straebler will oversee and promote program enhancements including the rollout of the on-line version of the popular "Appraising 101" workshop later this year. He will also manage ISTAT's continuing education program for Appraisers as well as outreach to consumers of appraisal services.

Straebler has been an active member of ISTAT for more than a decade, including serving as a non-appraiser member of the society's International Board of Governors that oversees the Appraisers' Program. He brings nearly two decades of aviation finance expertise including buying and selling aircraft and aviation-related debt, negotiating aircraft leases and loans and credit analysis of airlines, aircraft lessors, aircraft-backed debt and original equipment manufacturers.

"We are thrilled to bring Jeff's depth and breadth of aviation financial acumen to ISTAT, and our members will benefit greatly from it," said Bryson Monteleone, Chairman-elect of the International Board of Governors. "His familiarity with ISTAT's appraiser community and long history as a user of appraisal services will be invaluable as we implement our strategic plans for the Appraisers' Program."

"The ISTAT Board of Directors is committed, as one of the central pillars of our organization, to administering the industry's leading appraiser program," commented Douglas Runte, President of ISTAT. "Our addition of Jeff Straebler to the role of Executive Director as well as significant other investments in the ISTAT Appraisers' Program are a testament to the Board's support of the IAP and its importance to ISTAT. We are excited to have an individual of Jeff's stature step into this crucial role."

"I am very excited to join ISTAT's leadership team, and look forward to working with the Board of Governors to enhance the ISTAT Appraisers' Program," Straebler said. "ISTAT is proud to advance the education and expertise of appraisers at all stages in their careers, whether they are seasoned professionals with decades of experience or aspiring appraisers at the dawn of their careers."

Straebler was previously a Managing Director at John Hancock Life Insurance, where he oversaw investments in airlines, aircraft, aircraft lessors, original equipment manufacturers and airports. He formerly was a sell-side fixed income analyst at RBS Securities focusing on the debt of airlines, aircraft lessors, original equipment manufacturers and airports after leading lessee credit analysis for the Americas for RBS Aviation Capital.

Prior to RBS, Straebler was an analyst covering original equipment manufacturers at Fitch Ratings. He was also a banker at Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi and Citibank to airlines, aircraft lessors and original equipment manufacturers. He began his career as an analyst at American Airlines, the world's largest airline.

Straebler received a B.A. in Economics from New York University and an MBA with a concentration in Finance and International Business from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business.