A Member of Bank of China Group

Management

Management

Our senior management team is highly experienced. The team has successfully managed BOC Aviation through multiple industry cycles. They are key to our historical performance in executing successfully our business strategy and, in particular, in overseeing and leading our active approach to risk management and governance.  In addition, many of our senior management have extensive experience working in the aviation industry across multiple jurisdictions.

Profiles

 

Steven Townend

Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director, Executive Director and a member of the Strategy and Budget Committee.

Mr. Townend was appointed as a Director and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer on 1 January 2024. Mr. Townend joined the Company in January 2001 and was appointed as Chief Commercial Officer in July 2004. He was appointed to the additional role of Deputy Managing Director in 2006. Mr. Townend assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer in October 2020. Mr. Townend has 33 years of banking and leasing experience.

He graduated from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Banking and Finance.

 


Wu Jianguang

Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Wu Jianguang joined the Company in November 2022 and was appointed as Chief Financial Officer in January 2024. He currently oversees the Financial Planning and Analysis, Financial Control, Accounting and Reporting, Tax, Treasury and Settlement departments. Mr. Wu has 32 years of banking experience. He graduated from the Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences with a Master’s degree in Economics.

 

 

Thomas Chandler 

Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Chandler joined the Company in January 2023 and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in July 2023. He currently oversees the Legal and Transaction Management, Compliance and Insurance, Technical, Procurement and Information Technology departments. Mr. Chandler has more than 25 years of experience in aircraft leasing, financing and procurement and has worked in the legal, banking and aviation sectors. Prior to joining the Company, he was Managing Director Fleet & Asset Management of TUI Group. Mr. Chandler graduated from Swansea University in the United Kingdom with a Bachelor of Art (Honours) degree in History. He also received Post Graduate Diplomas in Law and in Legal Practice from the University of the West of England in the United Kingdom.

 

 

Paul Kent

Chief Commercial Officer.

 

Mr. Kent joined the Company as Chief Commercial Officer (Europe, Americas and Africa) in June 2020 and was appointed Chief Commercial Officer overseeing the global activities of the Company’s airline leasing and sales teams in January 2025. Mr. Kent has 29 years of finance and leasing experience, having started his career with nine years at Citibank, before becoming one of the leadership team that launched Doric as a new asset management platform in the aviation industry. He subsequently co-led the set-up of Amedeo where, as a principal shareholder, he managed all commercial activities of the company including aircraft leasing and sales, capital raising and investments, OEM relationships and the company’s principal aircraft order positions. Mr. Kent graduated from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom with a Master of Arts (Honours) degree in Management Studies.

 

 

Qian Xiaofeng

Chief Commercial Officer (Asia Pacific and the Middle East).

Mr. Qian joined the Company as Chief Commercial Officer (Asia Pacific and the Middle East) in September 2024. He joined Bank of China in 1993 and held various positions, including serving as the General Manager of Bank of China Zheshang Industrial Fund Management (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd. from October 2015 to August 2024. From July 2010 to October 2015, Mr. Qian served as the General Manager of the Financial Market Department and the General Manager of the Corporate Business Department of Bank of China Zhejiang Branch. Mr. Qian graduated from Hangzhou University in July 1993 with a Bachelor's degree in Economics majoring in International Finance. He obtained a Master's degree in Business Administration from London Metropolitan University in June 2005.