PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. (April 9, 2008) – Global Aero Logistics Inc. has named Robert Binns as chief executive officer and Charles McDonald as president. Both positions had been held on an interim basis by Global Chairman John Denison. Binns previously served as executive vice president and chief commercial and planning officer and McDonald had been executive vice president and chief airline officer, both since February 2008. Jeff Sanborn, vice president of Market Planning for Global, also has been promoted to chief marketing officer.
“Our company is fortunate to have leaders like Rob Binns, Charlie McDonald and Jeff Sanborn ready to take on the additional challenges asked of them today,” said Denison. “These leaders have the experience and personal qualities needed for World Airways and North American Airlines to compete effectively in an environment of extraordinarily high fuel prices and a changing world economy. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am honored to announce the appointment of Rob as our new CEO and Charlie and Jeff as our new president and chief marketing officer, respectively.”
Binns was appointed as Global’s chief marketing officer in September 2007 after serving as World Air Holdings’ chief marketing officer since August 2005. He joined World Airways in April 2004 as senior vice president of marketing and planning. Prior to joining World, Binns was president and chief executive officer of TransMeridian Airlines from April 2002 to April 2004 and had been its chief financial officer from December 2001 to April 2002.
Binns also was vice president and controller for the technical division of Pegasus Aviation from April 2000 through December 2001, and spent several years with TWA in a variety of positions, including general auditor.
McDonald became Global’s chief airline officer in February 2008, after serving as chief operating officer of World Airways since April 2005. He joined World Airways in May 2004 as senior vice president – Operations. He has more than 20 years of aviation experience, including chief operating officer for TransMeridian Airlines. He previously held senior-level positions with British Aerospace Regional Aircraft and the AMR Corporation, including director of Aircraft Maintenance for Flagship Airlines.
Sanborn joined World Airways in January 2002 as director – Corporate Strategy & Fleet Planning and was promoted to vice president of Corporate Planning for World Air Holdings in 2005. He was named vice president of Market Planning for Global Aero Logistics in 2007. Prior to joining World, Sanborn was at Delta Air Lines for more than 30 years, where he held a variety of management positions in international alliances, route development, strategic planning and business development.
Global Aero Logistics, based in Peachtree City, Ga., is the parent company of North American Airlines and World Airways. The company has a combined fleet of 27 aircraft.