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A graduate of the ENSAM (Ecole Nationale des Arts et Métiers) engineering school, Aymeric began his career as Deputy Nuclear Counselor at the French Embassy in Beijing, lobbying on behalf of the French nuclear industry. He then joined AFKL E&M, working in various areas such as wide body heavy maintenance and project management in component repairs, before becoming head of the Engine Shop customer support department. Aymeric then moved over to sales, serving as General Sales Manager for North Africa, then for Gulf countries (based in Dubai), then SSD for Europe and VP Sales MEA. Outside work, Aymeric enjoys sports (especially playing tennis) and travel. His motto: “Building relationships takes time, but trust is the cornerstone: always listen to the customer's needs, and adapt to make it happen.”

Matthijs completed his MBA at the University of Amsterdam in 2008. Drawn to the aviation industry, he landed his first role in the Pricing and Revenue Management department at Air France-KLM, where he held various positions at the head offices in Paris and Amsterdam. Matthijs continued his career as Global Corporate Account Manager, handling some of the airline’s largest accounts. Recently he moved over to MRO as Strategic Sales Director for the MEA region, acting as deputy to the regional VP – a role he describes as a highly rewarding challenge. In his personal life Matthijs enjoys connecting with friends and family over good food and drinks, coaching his son’s football team, and keeping fit through cycling, running and fitness. His motto: “How you sell matters, and what your process is matters, but how your customers feel when they engage with you matters more.”

Holding a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (ENSIAME) and a Post-Master’s Degree in Computational Mechanics (Mines de Paris), Antony went on to enter the Graduate Program in Business Engineering at Finmeccanica / Leonardo, and began his career as Sales & Marketing Manager within the Space Technology division (initially based in Italy, then Brazil). He later moved over to REVIMA (France) as a Landing Gear Sales & Program Manager, and after 3 years in this role he was dispatched to Dubai as the Sales Manager for the MEA region. 5 years later, Antony came over to AFI KLM E&M to take on the role of Account Sales Manager overseeing Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE. Outside work he enjoys travelling, learning new languages and table tennis. His motto: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right."

Pierre's background in the Aviation/MRO market spans a full three decades, the first of which was spent in various Procurement roles at AFI. The second decade of his career shifted in focus toward sales support, first as a Contract Manager then as Technical Sales Manager for Engine Products, supporting our Sales teams around the world. Pierre joined the MEA Sales team at AFI KLM E&M as Sales Manager ten years ago, overseeing various African markets before taking on his current role in charge of the Southern Africa region. Working in sales fulfils Pierre's appetite for exploring and learning about different cultures across the African continent. He considers his close-knit relationships with the customer to be the key to success: as he puts it, “what you plant now, you harvest later.” His motto: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” (Winston Churchill)

Coming from an industrial IT background, Paul joined the AFI purchasing department 34 years ago, initially working on the procurement system. He later moved to Engines to manage RFPs, and then spent several years working in various international procurement positions at the Air France HQ. His move to sales saw him join AFI KLM E&M in New Delhi, where he would manage the Indian Subcontinent for five years before heading to Sydney to oversee the Pacific area. After nearly 9 years abroad, in mid-2017 Paul decided it was time to “come home” to France. He is now in charge of sales for a large portion of North Africa and Near East/Middle East countries. His personal time is spent with his sons, family and friends around the world; he also finds inspiration in history, culture, gardening, and woodworking. His motto: “Learning, open-mindedness, curiosity and adaptability to other ways and customs!”

Holding a Master’s in Transportation and Logistics from the ENPC (Paris), Charles spent 3 years with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as a logistics officer, stationed first in Burundi, then Guinea and Mali. After this experience in Africa he returned to Paris, where he spent 3 years as a training officer at the Association de Formation Transport (AFTRAL). Charles was then recruited by AFI to train their Logistics staff, and after 3 years in this role he moved over to Air France Consulting as a senior consultant for logistics and maintenance. 9 years later he joined AFI KLM E&M as a Sales manager for Africa. Charles’ free time is spent with family and friends, along with as much travel, reading and sports as he can fit in! His motto: “Listen to the customer, learn from the customer, and you’ll keep the customer.”

Emad graduated with a BSc from KAU in Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering, first role OJT mechanic on F15 SPS repair. Afterwards, he joined VIP and LCC airlines as an airworthiness Engineer. In 2006 Emad joined Air France Industries as a local representative, and in 2009 he was promoted to Sales rep, giving him the opportunity to work and interact with various business units. In 2011 he was promoted to Sales Manager, which he describes as a multi-faceted role with range of internal/external challenges. Emad is a keen sportsman, and enjoys cycling, paragliding and judo. His motto: “Small minds will always try to disparage your ambitions, but great minds will make you feel that you can become great too.”

A graduate of the ENSAM and Cranfield University (in Aerospace Vehicle Design), Mikael began his career in airworthiness management at Air France. At home in the hangar, in 2011 he joined the cabin modification department, developing a broad understanding of the business models of commercial aviation and engaging with a wide range of actors. After five years in the role he moved to the UAE, managing aircraft cabin design from a Guest Experience point of view, and two years later joined the local AFI KLM E&M sales office in Dubai. Since then he’s enjoyed developing his career in a multicultural environment with many exiting challenges. Mikael loves kitesurfing and football, but currently stays fit by running after his young children! His motto: “Don’t be afraid to fail – just pick yourself up quickly, learn what works and what doesn’t, then iterate and pivot.”