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Meet the Avolus Team
Alexis Grabar, CEO & Co-Founder
With over 15 years experience in the aviation industry, Alexis worked previously for Eurocopter as Head of the Moscow office and Strategic Development. He went on to become the youngest ever Sales Director at Airbus Industrie, responsible for development of North African and Eastern European markets. He later assumed the position of Vice President of Sales for MarquisJet / Netjets before setting up Avolus in 2004. Alexis holds an MsC from Grenoble School of Management, a HEC MBA (Paris) and a Mid Career MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston (Tufts and Harvard Universities) along with cross registration classes at Harvard Business School and MIT.
Simon Teakle, Director, CFO & Company Secretary
Simon has a strong entrepreneurial experience in both SMEs and PLCs in both the service and manufacturing sectors working in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. He owned his own company for five years, taking a loss making retail business from substantial losses into profit by improving sales and customer performance to the highest levels, achieving a position within the top three best performers / excellence within the UK network. He is a highly experienced Operations and Financial Manager/Director, Interim Manager and Consultant with extensive experience in the Retail, manufacturing and Aviation sectors in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
Richard Thomas, Special Advisor to the CEO
Prior to working with Avolus, Richard was Director of Marketing for Jet Republic, and was responsible for global marketing for WhiteConcierge, the world’s largest B2B concierge and Air Partner plc. Richard led the initial European brand development for NetJets Europe and Bombardier Flexjet Europe. Richard started his career at Prism Consulting International where he worked as a strategic consultant for clients including Polaroid, Square D and Bombardier Flexjet (US). Richard is a Harvard Economics graduate where he was a starting fullback for the Harvard Crimson American football team. He also has an MBA from Duke University, Fuqua School of Business.
Alex Hunter, VP of Active Sales and Aircraft Sales & Acquisitions
Alex Hunter is an entrepreneur who formed The Private Jet Club Ltd. As Managing Director of his own company, he conceived PrivateJetShare.com (Europe’s first charter sharing member’s club). With a strong background in the aviation industry, Alex is now a consultant for Aircraft Sales and Acquisitions and Active Sales. Since 2009, he has taken the role of Commercial Director of Finesse Executive Ltd, and is currently working with Flight Source as their London Branch Manager. Alex gained his knowledge in Charter sales when he first came to Avolus as Sales Manager, prior to starting his own business. Alex now returns to Avolus as VP of Aircraft Sales & Acquisitions where he specializes in the aircraft sale and acquisitions and block hour/fractional/card programmes and large charter sales.
James Foster, Vice President of Sales for UK / USA and Russia & CIS
Having spent three years as a Royal Navy reservist, Honorary Midshipman, James completed a Bachelors degree at Royal Holloway University in Politics & International Relations (Hons). James went on to develop his career in the private aviation industry, where he started as a Private Jet Broker. Prior to working at Avolus, James worked at Jet Republic where he led a team of 15 Sales Consultants. He now has a wealth of private aviation experience in both the charter broker division and fractional ownership and jet cards. In 2009 James was promoted to Manager for the UK and USA region for Avolus and is now in charge of all top client level development and operations.
Ekaterina Kryukova, Senior Sales & Operations Manager for Russia & CIS
With two Masters Degrees in Strategic and General Management, Ekaterina started her career in Wealth Management in Russia, and later moved to Paris where she completed her second masters degree. Ekaterina joined Avolus in 2010 as Sales & Operations Executive specializing on the Russian Market and was promoted to Sales & Operations Manager for Russia & CIS in 2011. Ekaterina is fluent in Russian, English and French.
