RoyalJet, the premium private jet operator, is poised to continue to build on the business success it has achieved over the last two decades with the entry of a new shareholder and the appointment of seasoned aviation industry executive Shafiul Syed as its new Chief Executive.
This latest development and key milestone ushers in a new chapter in RoyalJet’s business growth and expansion aspirations.
“I am excited to be joining the RoyalJet family at this time.” Syed said. “The Middle East is going through incredible growth and Abu Dhabi, our home, is very key to many of those advancements. We have an incredible opportunity to further push the company forward to the next level on the global arena.”
Syed indicated that his areas of focus will be safety, customer service and strategy development.
“Top of the list is safety. As a premium private jet operator, this is our ultimate responsibility and service towards our guest,” Syed explained. “And because we deal with very high profile VVIP customers, not only should we deliver and meet expectations in service but continue to reinvent and expand through new frontiers.
Syed explained further “Impeccable safety standards and excellent customer service underpin our daily operations, and we need to continue to evolve and grow with the environment, into the future. With a new composition of Board of Directors, we are poised to trail blaze, whilst growing the business, exploring new geographies and segments. These steps come within the framework of our efforts to build and enhance the success of our distinctive brand, Royal Jet, and consolidate our leading position in the market.”
Mohammed Husain Ahmed, who previously held the post of Royal Jet CEO and has now taken on the role of the Advisor to the Chairman, said: “I am truly excited to welcome Shaf to the Royal Jet family on behalf of the Chairman. The years of experience he has had in the aviation industry truly speak volumes about his leadership and business acumen. This, I believe will drive Royal Jet to even greater heights and help realise the brand’s aspirations to spread its wings further across key markets. I wish him all the best.”
Syed comes with more than three and a half decades of aviation management experience, across many departments and functions. He has led major brand organisations through tough business and culture change with his inspired and passionate leadership, as well as an uncompromising commitment to safety, strategy and the customer as key success factors.
Syed has worked across various locations in the world, specialising in starting-up new airlines, turning them around, or providing strategic management. Under his leadership, Aero FlightOps UK Ltd received one of the first Air Operator Certificates (AOC) to be awarded by the UK CAA post Brexit. In Nigeria, Atlantic Aviation Ltd. secured an AOC to compete against other helicopter operators. And, during his stints with Coastal (Tanzania & East Africa), Heliconia (Morocco & Northwest Africa) and Aero Contractors (Nigeria & West Africa), company brands were driven back to world class safety and operational standards leading to commercial profitability.
At the start of his career, Syed had an 18-year distinguished profile at British Airways starting off as an undergraduate engineer, Boeing 747-400 Line Maintenance Engineer, Production Controller to BA Engineering’s Landing Gear overhaul facility, Operations Scheduler, Customer Services Manager, Brand Marketing Executive through to Sales Manager and culminating as General Manager for BA’s entire operations in North & West Africa.
Syed studied Air Transport Engineering at the City University (London, UK) and Business Administration at Henley Business School. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS).
