SEABURY CAPITAL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Seabury Securities
- Professionals Executive
Alexis Fekete joined Seabury in 2010, he is a Managing Director of Seabury Securities, is based in Dubai and London and he coordinates Seabury Securities aviation practice for Europe, the Middle East & Africa. He brings over sixteen years of advisory and investment banking experience in the aviation and aerospace industry with specialized experience in M&A, financial & operational restructuring, debt & equity raising, aircraft financing, airline & lessor due diligence. He recently led the successful restructuring & capital raise of Norwegian Air Shuttle. Alexis has originated or/and executed over 150 aviation & aerospace related transactions in his career, totaling over $16B. Earlier, Alexis was a Vice President aircraft finance at Natixis. Mr. Fekete holds an MBA from INSEAD, a Master in French Business Law & a Master Grandes Ecoles from NEOMA Business School.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, European Aviation, Aerospace & Defense Investment Banking
Mr. Antares Reis is the MD of Seabury's European Aerospace & Defense Investment Banking team. Antares' primary responsibilities include origination and execution of Investment Banking-related transactions in the A&D industry.
Prior to joining Seabury in early 2013, he spent a career establishing his expertise and A&D as Vice-President at Barons, CIT Aerospace, and General Electric. He led and was an integral part of a variety of financing and M&A transactions, spanning key A&D market segments that are complementary to Seabury's core advisory practices, including the MRO, Aerospace Distribution & Logistics, Aircraft Interiors, Aerospace Propulsion, Aerostructures, Training & Simulation, and Defense Systems. During his career, Antares also held positions with McKinsey, PwC, CCF Bank, and Pactual Bank.
Job Titles:
- CEO, Seabury Enterprise Solutons and CEO, Seabury IT / Software Advisory
- Professionals Executive
- Seabury in 2002 As a Managing Director
Bijoy Mechery joined the Seabury in 2002 as a Managing Director as well as Chief Executive Officer of Seabury's IT software consulting and development firm, Seabury Enterprise Solutions, LLC (SES). SES provides comprehensive IT consulting services to Seabury's aviation and private equity clients including vendor selection, IT spend analysis and improvement and IT due diligence. SES has also developed a suite of proprietary, cross industry, decision support and analysis applications including what Seabury believes to be the most robust and comprehensive airline enterprise assessment software (Seabury's Airline Performance Analysis System, or "APAS").
Job Titles:
- Rejoins Seabury Americas Investment Banking As Director
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Professionals Executive
Chris is a Managing Director at Seabury Capital providing advisory services to the aviation and aerospace industries specializing in asset-backed financings and leasing transactions and with a focus on parts, engines and the global supply chain. Prior to Seabury, Chris was Managing Director and Group Head for CIT Corporate Finance, Aerospace & Defense. Chris has also worked at GECAS where he managed structuring and origination in the spare engine and spare parts leasing and financing businesses. Chris joined GECAS from Bankers Trust where he was a member of the Airline & Aerospace investment banking team. Chris holds a MBA from New York University and a BA from Hamilton College.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Seabury Corporate Advisors
Mr. Fowkes brings 22 years of investment banking experience, having led assignments in 30 countries, including aircraft financing & trading, restructuring, and M&A. Mr. Fowkes was a senior capital markets banker for Salomon Brothers and Citigroup, covered Industrials for Lehman Brothers and was a senior member of Deutsche Bank's special situations group. His clients at Seabury included Air Canada, Alaska, Etihad, ILFC, MAXJet, Northwest, Republic, Spirit, and US Airways.
Prior to rejoining Seabury, Mr. Fowkes' financing, restructuring, M&A and aviation & leasing clients included GA Telesis, Blue Air, SriLankan and private equity and start-up leasing companies. He gained helicopter experience as Director of M&A and Integration for Bristow Group where he led the acquisition & integration of two airlines (Eastern Airways and Airnorth), the sale of two JVs (FBH and HCA) and focused on restructuring JVs including in Russia, Nigeria, and Trinidad.
Michael B. Cox, Vice Chairman, Seabury Advisory Group, and Global Head of Corporate Advisory Services, commented: "David has been engaged with Seabury for more than 15 years and has championed a number of key projects for our aviation clients, including airline M&A, corporate finance, and airline restructuring. We look forward to David's continued contributions of his broad aviation experience and deep understanding of issues facing the industry as part of our team of experts who deliver diversified and responsive business solutions to our aviation clients worldwide."
"I am very pleased to rejoin forces with my colleagues at Seabury to work hand-in-hand with airline clients to provide them with the best solutions for their business challenges and help shape their successful futures," said David Fowkes, Managing Director of Seabury Corporate Advisors. "Seabury delivers significant value to the aviation industry through a combination of expertise, analytical techniques, data and proven tools. This integrated approach to business improvement advice has earned Seabury the leading position among global advisory firms."
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Seabury Securities
- Professionals Executive
Gregory Ethier rejoined Seabury in June 2020 following 9 years at Aircastle Advisor LLC, a leading aircraft lessor. While at Aircastle, Greg led North American marketing efforts, including portfolio lease placements and aircraft acquisitions (consistently $1.5B+ annually). In addition, Greg was responsible for OEM coverage and led the evaluation of new technology offerings of Embraer, Airbus and Boeing, identified and supported new business development opportunities and led and managed Aircastle's freighter aircraft portfolio, including the evaluation of freighter conversion programs. Prior to Aircastle, Greg spent 12 years at Seabury executing on numerous M&A advisory, financial restructuring, aircraft related and creditor assignments.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Professionals
James Chan is a Managing Director, at Seabury Asset Management and CEO of Billboard TFX. He has over two decades experience in the structured finance and commodity markets including structuring, investment management across the capital structure and derivatives trading.
Prior to joining Seabury Capital, James was Managing Director and Head of Trade Finance at the private credit fund, White Oak. His prior experience also includes MET Commodities, The Noble Group, Cheyne Capital, BlackRock, and Nomura. James received his BSc (hons) Biochemistry from Royal Holloway College, London and his MSc International Management from Kings College, London.
John E. Luth - CEO, Chairman, President
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Chairman
- President
- Chairman, President & CEO, Seabury Securities LLC
John Luth is Chairman, President & CEO of Seabury Capital Group, founded in 1995, which focuses on aviation, aerospace & defense, space and travel industries via its investment banking, asset management, software and trade finance firms. Seabury's value add to its clients is its global presence, core competency and industry expertise. Seabury has executed over 1,700 engagements for 300+ clients in more than 60 countries. Mr. Luth is also CEO of Seabury Capital LLC which owns a number of investment funds and asset-backed portfolio businesses.
Mr. Luth has advised on more than $200B equity, debt and lease placements/restructurings and over $400B in aircraft orders (amounts in 2023 dollars). Mr. Luth currently leads Seabury's engagement as investment banker and restructuring advisors for Scandinavian Airlines in its Chapter 11 case, raising $500M of DIP financing and $1.2bn of exit equity and convertible debt financing commitments. He advised Azul Airlines on a highly successful out-of-court restructuring including $4.5B lease restructuring, $865M of public bond exchange, $350M of convertible bond exchange and $800M of new debt financing (2023). In 2020-2021, he advised Avianca Holdings SA as restructuring advisor and lead investment bank on its $2.0B DIP financing and $2.7B of equity and debt exit financing in its Chapter 11 proceeding. Mr. Luth also led a team that arranged a $325M convertible note placement for Azul Airlines (2020).
Mr. Luth was CFO & CIO of Continental Airlines. Prior to Continental, he served as VP, Syndications at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company. Prior to that, he served in the Corporate Finance Division of Exxon Corporation. Mr. Luth holds A.B. in Economics magna cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross (1974) and an M.B.A. in Finance from the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania (1976). He is a FINRA Registered Principal, and is Series 7, 63, 79 and 24 qualified, and is also FCA (UK) licensed. He serves on the Advisory Board of Holy Cross and was a Trustee from 2005-2013.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Seabury Securities
- Professionals Executive
Ken Raff has been engaged on over 20 aircraft acquisition campaigns since joining Seabury in 2001. He takes a lead role for client fleet evaluation, planning and aircraft analysis including performance and specification selection. He manages aircraft procurement and restructuring campaigns with a focus on evaluating and negotiating (or renegotiating) aircraft and engine purchase agreements and associated long term maintenance contracts. Prior to joining Seabury, Mr. Raff spent 15 years at American Airlines in various finance roles including fleet planning and transactions, and three years conducting certification flight tests at Boeing.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Financial Officer, SING for Service Mepco
Kevin Diamond joined Seabury Asset Management I LLC in 2017 as Chief Financial Officer. He leads our efforts working with major third party providers to acquire and service payment plans for the vehicle service contract ("VSC") market. In this role, he has oversight of all functions for the company's VSC operations.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Seabury Securities
- Professionals Executive
Layne Grindal joined Seabury in 2020 and has nearly 20 years of experience advising airlines and aircraft investors on complex financing and business transactions. Prior to joining Seabury, he spent two years at a transportation-focused investment bank where he helped originate, syndicate and close nearly $1.0 billion of aircraft financings for airlines globally. Previously Layne was Deputy General Counsel of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded cargo airline and aircraft leasing company, where he advised on over $4.5 billion of aircraft and capital market financings and over $3.5 billion of aircraft acquisitions. He joined Atlas from Haynes and Boone, LLP, where he was a corporate lawyer specializing in mergers and acquisitions, securities law, corporate finance and corporate restructurings. He is a member of the State Bar of New York and holds Series 7, 63 and 79 licenses from FINRA.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- President
- Professionals Leadership Team
- Senior Managing Director, Financial Asset Management and Financial Services & Trading / President & Chief Operating Officer, Seabury International Holdings Inc
Margaret Chan is President & Chief Operating Officer of Seabury Capital LLC. Ms. Chan joined Seabury in 2001 as head of Seabury Asset Management in Los Angeles and has been responsible for overseeing the operations of the firm's Structured Financial products, Specialty Finance and Financial Solutions.
Ms. Chan has been engaged by multinationals and private equity funds in sourcing investment opportunities and structuring transactions both domestically and in Asia and Europe, involving industries including technology, insurance, finance and manufacturing. She specializes in identifying, originating, structuring, and funding activities for high-yielding, low-risk, asset-backed instruments. Ms. Chan has more than 30 years of experience in diverse public and private transactions.
Job Titles:
- Senior Managing Director
- Professionals Leadership Team
- Senior Managing Director, Seabury Securities
- Vice Chairman, Seabury Advisory Group
Michael B. Cox is Senior Managing Director, Corporate Advisory & Investment Banking. Mr. Cox joined Seabury as a partner in Seabury's principal advisory practice in April 1998. He has over 30 years of corporate and advisory experience covering corporate recovery, cash management, business planning and crisis management. At Seabury, Mr. Cox has advised numerous airline and helicopter clients on a variety of projects, including
airline treasury, corporate finance, and airline restructuring. In addition, Mr. Cox has been qualified as an industry expert in various commercial disputes involving aircraft leasing matters, airline valuations and business plans for the passenger, helicopter and cargo sector.
Job Titles:
- Professionals Executive
- Senior Vice President, Seabury Securities
Neal Wesson joined Seabury in 2007. Neal has worked on wide ranging transactions consisting of in- and out-of-court restructurings, liquidity programs, and arranging and structuring aircraft financings including secured debt, operating, leveraged and tax leases, PDP financing, and fleet sourcing and remarketing. Neal has extensive expertise in analyzing fleet sourcing and financing options to optimize ownership costs and mitigate risk. He works with clients to understand, analyze and select funding structures and negotiating and executing commitments and documentation. Since joining Seabury, Neal executed over 50 transactions totaling over $25 billion and 300 aircraft. Neal holds a B.S. in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Managing Director for Capital Markets
- Professionals Executive
Oliver is a Managing Director for Capital Markets at Seabury Capital advising clients in the aviation and aerospace industries. Prior to Seabury, Oliver held the financial officer role of Managing Director-Head of Capital Markets & Treasury for Waypoint Leasing, a private-equity owned, global helicopter leasing company. Oliver was also a Director for CIT's Transportation principal finance business. His clients included middle market private equity firms, aviation and aerospace and defense industry suppliers. Prior to CIT, Oliver held roles at GE Capital, Bank of America, and Mitchell Madison Group. Oliver received his B.A. and M.P.A. from Cornell University, and a M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- CEO, SGI Aviation
- SGI 's CEO
Paolo Lironi is SGI's CEO. He joined SGI in 2008, with more than 10 years of experience in commercial aviation.
Mr. Lironi has a strong track record in aircraft leasing, contract negotiation, redeliveries, buyouts, and end-of-life scenario planning. His clients include financial institutions as well as large lessors and commercial airlines.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Global Head
- President
- Senior Advisor
- Professionals Leadership Team
- Senior Managing Director for Seabury Capital Management
Patrick Henry Dowling is Senior Managing Director for Seabury Capital Management focusing on the Aviation, A&D and Transportation industries. He has over 40 years' experience in the finance/equity industry and was previously a partner with Massif Partners.
Mr. Dowling has been involved in over $20 billion in acquisitions, equity investments and debt financings in the Financial Services, Transportation (A&D, Trucking, Logistics, Rail, Intermodal and Marine), and Commercial Real Estate industries.
Mr. Dowling is a CPA and has a BS in accounting from Fordham University plus a JD from Pace University School of Law. He is a FINRA Registered Principal and is Series 7 & 24 qualified. He is on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the USO of Metropolitan of New York.
: "Patrick, with his worldwide maritime advisory experience and keen commercial insights, will strengthen our long-established maritime investment banking capabilities with a one-stop solution. Patrick is joining a top-notch management team with Ed, as SMPFRA's President & CEO, along with industry veterans Henry Juan III, Global Head of Maritime Investment Banking, and Jonathan Montbach, Global Head of Maritime Specialty Finance, to bring to the market an experience and visionary approach to today's maritime industry."
Prior to joining SMPFRA, Bird held the position of Chief Commercial Officer with Intels Nigeria Limited, part of the Orlean Invest Group, located in Onne, Nigeria. Previously, he also served as General Manager - Infrastructure Investments Africa, the Middle East and India with APM Terminals ("APMT"). Bird began his career in 2005 at A.P. Moller Maersk Group, the parent company of APMT, where he held a number of positions with increasing responsibility on a global basis. Bird has extensive shipping project management experience in both commercial and operational areas.
Patrick Henry Dowling is Senior Managing Director for Seabury Capital Management focusing on the Aviation, A&D and Transportation industries. He has over 45 years' experience in the finance/ private equity industry and was previously a partner with Massif Partners.
Mr. Dowling is a past member of the Advisory Board of Directors for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and currently sits on the Chamber's Transportation, Infrastructure, and Supply Chain Committee as well as the Space Industry Council and Federal Acquisition Council. He is a member of the USO Advisory Board of Directors for the US Northeast Region, and serves as Chairman of the Miss Kate Foundation. He served on the Board of Trustees for Airlink and is now an Ambassador, as well as a member of the Audax Business Development Corporation Board of Directors. He was formerly on the board of directors for the Institute for Defense & Business Foundation, Penske Truck Leasing and the American Trucking Associations Foundation. He is a certified public accountant started his career at Price Waterhouse and is a current member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as having a BS in accounting from Fordham University plus a JD from Pace University School of Law. He is a FINRA Registered Principal and is Series 7 and 24 qualified.
Patrick Henry Dowling joins Seabury as Senior Advisor to the Aerospace Investment Banking division
Job Titles:
- President and Chief Executive Officer, Seabury Global Markets
- Senior Advisor to Seabury Asset Management
Rob Fleschler is a Senior Advisor to Seabury Asset Management specializing in portfolio companies within the financial technology space. Rob has more than 25 years of experience in the Financial Services industry with a background in cash, futures and options sales & trading; day to day management of global institutional sales teams and building electronic execution products and distribution capabilities. Rob's previous work experience includes more than a decade with financial institutions in the US and abroad including JP Morgan (NY, London), UBS (NY, Tokyo and Singapore), Lehman Brothers (NY), Goldman Sachs (NY) and another decade with software companies and electronic execution venues. Mr. Fleschler holds a B.A. from DePauw University and joins Seabury from Hotspot, now part of Cboe FX Markets LLC..
Job Titles:
- President and Chief Executive Officer, Seabury Trade Finance Exchange LLC ( Seabury TFX )
Robert is CEO of Seabury Trade Finance Exchange LLC (Seabury TFX) and holds overall responsibility for the company's strategy and key business initiatives. With more than 20 years of industry experience, he has a unique background in trade, finance, supply chain and technology as a practitioner and as a service provider. Prior to Seabury TFX, he was managing director of TradeCard Inc., now GTNexus, where he built and oversaw the company's global supplier business to a network of over 20,000 companies. Before TradeCard, Lin held management positions at NewView Technologies, Omnivision Technologies, and Cargill Financial Markets Group. He holds a B.A. in cognitive science from University of California, San Diego and an M.B.A. from University of Southern California. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and events on supply chain and trade finance.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director With Seabury Securities
- Executive Director, Seabury Securities
Ross McKenzie is an Executive Director with Seabury Securities with over 20 years of experience in airline business and financial planning, restructurings, and fleet analysis. Mr. McKenzie leads Seabury's business planning team, a group of financial planning specialists responsible for evaluating and developing airline business plans and financial projections. At Seabury, Mr. McKenzie has developed financial projections and other analyses to support a broad spectrum of projects, including restructurings, due diligence reviews, corporate financing projects and fleet campaigns. Mr. McKenzie and the business planning team have worked with more than 50 airlines worldwide of all sizes and strategies.
Job Titles:
- Executive
- New Professionals
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Continues to Strengthen Executive Team
- PFRA Appoints Patrick Bird Managing Director, Advisory
Job Titles:
- Continues to Strengthen Executive Team
Job Titles:
- Managing Director for Seabury Aircraft Capital
Stacey Wilson is Managing Director for Seabury Aircraft Capital and has over 23 years of aircraft financing experience as a cofounder of SFI International LLC, a Director at CIT Group, and a Vice President at Newcourt Capital providing aircraft financing solutions to global clientele closing over 1000 aircraft valued at $18B. He is a former USAF Pilot and veteran of war. He has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BS from the US Air Force Academy. He is FINRA licensed (series 24, 7, 63).
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Seabury Securities
Stephan Krastev has over 20 years of experience in investment banking and corporate finance advisory. Mr. Krastev joined Seabury in April 2002 and has since led, co-led, structured and executed a broad range of transactions, including debt and equity capital raising, M&A advisory and turnarounds, and aircraft financing in aviation and aerospace.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President in Seabury 's EMEA Consulting Practice
Job Titles:
- Non - Executive Chairman, Seabury Capital LLC & Seabury Capital Management LLC
Mr. Schmidt has been designated to serve as Non-Executive Chairman of Seabury Capital LLC and its parent company, Seabury Capital Management LLC ("SCM") which is Seabury's newly formed investment management company. Previously, Mr. Schmidt served on the board of directors of Seabury Deutschland GmbH from 2003 to 2008. Mr. Schmidt is focused on supporting Seabury's new fund management businesses as well as an expansion of Seabury's investment banking businesses.
Over the past 20 years, Mr. Schmidt has built a personal fortune of significant size through financial entrepreneurship, banking, mining and minerals trading, investments in precious stones and diamonds, art, real estate and other areas. Mr. Schmidt is CEO and sole owner of SouthCapital Holding, a private holding company for much of Mr. Schmidt's private wealth businesses.