The aircraft leasing group, Avolon has appointed Michael Lillis as chairman of its Latin American Advisory Board. Lillis is a former Irish diplomat and former head of GE Capital Airline Services (GECAS) Latin America and Caribbean business.

Lillis will support the development of Avolon’s Latin American business together with Paul Geaney, Avolon’s head of marketing for the Americas.

Rich and varied career

Lillis is an aircraft leasing veteran and from 1990 to 2006 served as head of GECAS’ Latin American and Caribbean business. Prior to its acquisition by GE, he also served in the same role for the Irish aircraft lessor, GPA. During his career in Latin America, Lillis financed over 180 aircraft (valued at in excess of $6bn), a number unmatched by any other aircraft lessor in the Latin American region during that period. Lillis has worked with, and financed aircraft for, every major airline in Latin America including Avianca, Aeroméxico, Gol, LAN and TAM.

Before his aircraft leasing career, Lillis served the Irish government in various roles advising on foreign policy and international relations. He served in the Irish Embassy in the US and subsequently in the European Commission in Brussels.

While at the Commission, he negotiated trade agreements for the European Union with the Andean Pact (which includes Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) and Argentina. He was also a lead negotiator for Ireland on the Anglo-Irish agreement on Northern Ireland in 1985 and was subsequently appointed as the youngest Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva where he conducted global trade negotiations.

Lillis is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish and is co-author, with Ronan Fanning, of ‘Scandal and Courage: The Lives of Eliza Lynch’, an account of the War of the Triple Alliance in South America between 1864 and 1870. The book is dedicated to the memory of Comandante Rolim Amaro, a pioneer of Latin American aviation and founder of TAM, the largest airline in the Latin American region.

Key Market in Latin America

John Higgins, Avolon President and CCO said: “We are very pleased to welcome Michael to the Avolon team. Latin America represents a key market for Avolon and Michael’s experience and relationships are unmatched within the region.”

“We expect to commit significant capital to the development of our Latin American business over the next two to three years and it forms a core part of our growth strategy. Working alongside Paul Geaney, Michael will be instrumental in the development of our Latin American portfolio.”

Lillis added: “I am delighted to join the Avolon team and excited to have the opportunity to continue to work across the entire Latin American region. The region is among the most attractive growth markets in the world and the opportunities for a well-capitalised and experienced aircraft leasing team are significant.”

Avolon provides aircraft leasing and lease management services. It was launched in May 2010 having successfully completed an initial capital raise from three private equity firms: Cinven, CVC Capital Partners and Oak Hill Capital Partners.

The company has executed contracts and letters of intent for the purchase of 45 aircraft comprising Airbus A320s, Boeing 737NGs and Airbus A330s. Some of these aircraft are already placed with Latin American airlines.