Graham Stephenson, ExecuJet’s Group FBO Manager, Retires After 51 Years in Aviation

Graham Stephenson, ExecuJet Aviation Group’s Head of Fixed Base Operations, is retiring on 31 August 2009 after an aviation career spanning more than half a century – 21 years in commercial and 23 years in business aviation.

Niall Olver, ExecuJet CEO, spoke about Graham’s work in leading ExecuJet’s FBO activity over the past three years, including his role at the company’s flagship FBO in Zurich. “Graham has been a truly valuable member of the team at ExecuJet and we are sad to see him go. We wish him all the very best for the future and trust that he takes away some wonderful memories of his time with ExecuJet”. Nicole Gut, who has worked with Graham for the past three years and is currently FBO Manager at Zurich Airport, has taken over part of Graham’s role as Director European FBOs, effective 01 August.

Graham’s career started in 1958 with a three-year commercial apprenticeship with British European Airways before working in various station manager roles with BEA, BOAC and British Airways for a total of 21 years. Graham was working as traffic manager USSR when he met his future wife Ludmila, one of the airline’s airport staff, whom he married in 1978. After a short spell as director development at Luton Airport, Graham moved to the business aviation industry as Vice President and COO of Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia before becoming Project Manager at the Jet Centre at London City Airport. Darren Grover, Ramp Services Director at London City Airport comments: “I have the utmost respect for Graham – a true professional. It was a pleasure to have worked with him and our industry will miss him. He is simply one of the best.”

In 2006 Graham relocated to Switzerland to become Zurich FBO Manager for the ExecuJet Aviation Group. His role within the company quickly grew and Graham was soon appointed Group FBO Director to formulate a united FBO network worldwide. During the next 3 years Graham oversaw the development and redesign of ExecuJet Europe’s Berlin FBO and launched ExecuJet’s new FBO in Kuala Lumpur in joint venture with Hawker Pacific.

Graham can look back over many highlights during his career and comments, “I have many fond memories of my time in Aviation and especially with ExecuJet, I understand this is the next progressive step in my life but I will truly miss the job and all the people surrounding it.”

The ExecuJet Aviation Group

The ExecuJet Aviation Group is a leading global business aviation organisation offering a diverse range of services including pre-owned and new aircraft sales, aircraft management for private and commercial registered aircraft, aircraft charter, aircraft maintenance, aircraft completions management and fixed base operations. Headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, ExecuJet has operations in five regions – Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and South Africa, embracing a workforce of over 800 experienced staff.

The ExecuJet Aviation Group manages 150 business jets worldwide under the most stringent safety standards. Its commercial fleet is operated under the regulatory umbrella of eight regional civil aviation issued air operating certificates (AOCs). ExecuJet has many authorised maintenance facilities throughout four regions, certified to work on most Business Jets. The ExecuJet Aviation Group operates six stunning FBO facilities in Berlin, Zurich, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.

The ExecuJet Aviation Group offers considerable experience in new and pre-owned aircraft sales worldwide and has a large inventory of business aircraft to suit all budgets with an international team of sales directors offering local knowledge and expertise. ExecuJet is the exclusive sales agent outside North America for the eight to 12-passenger Aerion Supersonic Business