Chapman Freeborn appoints Latha Narayan as President APAC
As the new President APAC of Chapman Freeborn from April 1, Latha Narayan will report directly to Group CEO Saska Gerasimova.
Chapman Freeborn, the global air charter specialist and part of Avia Solutions Group, has appointed Latha Narayan as President APAC, effective 1 April. In this role, Narayan will lead the company’s strategic and commercial development across the Asia Pacific region, focusing on scaling operations, enhancing performance, and strengthening alignment across cargo, passenger and business aviation services. She will be based in Singapore.
“Strengthening our leadership in Asia Pacific is a key priority as we continue to scale our global operations. Latha brings a unique combination of strategic insight and commercial expertise, along with a proven ability to lead transformation and deliver results across international markets. Her appointment positions us strongly for the next phase of growth in the region,” said Saska Gerasimova, Group CEO at Chapman Freeborn.
Narayan brings more than three decades of experience in the aviation sector, with a career spanning commercial, operational, and leadership roles at British Airways and Etihad Airways. Her experience covers both passenger and cargo businesses, with responsibilities across Asia Pacific, Australasia, and the Indian subcontinent.
She most recently worked as an independent air cargo and aviation consultant based in Singapore, focusing on business transformation and advisory services. Prior to that, she spent over 11 years at Etihad, where she held multiple senior leadership roles, including Director Cargo Commercial for Asia Pacific, Australasia and the Indian subcontinent, and Global Director Cargo Commercial. In these roles, she was responsible for revenue growth, network expansion, and strategic partnerships, with oversight of profit and loss across international markets.
Before joining Etihad, Narayan spent more than 17 years with British Airways and its cargo division, where she held roles across airport operations, sales, and regional cargo commercial management in Asia Pacific and Southeast Asia, building a foundation in both operational execution and commercial development.
“I am honoured to step into this role and bring my experience to an organisation recognised for its excellence, integrity, and leadership in aviation. In an industry evolving at an extraordinary pace, Chapman Freeborn’s legacy is built on the strength of its people, and I am truly excited to work alongside such a talented team. My focus will be on accelerating growth, deepening collaboration, and delivering best-in-class solutions across cargo, passenger, and business aviation in this next phase. I look forward to leading with purpose and impact, redefining what is possible in this space,” Narayan was quoted in an official statement.
Her appointment reflects Chapman Freeborn’s continued investment in Asia Pacific as a key strategic region and its commitment to strengthening leadership capabilities across its global network. Established in 1973, the company has developed a presence across major aviation and commercial hubs. It operates across a wide range of charter requirements, including cargo movements, humanitarian airlifts, and passenger charters, supported by access to aircraft availability and operational data, along with flight support services such as fuel planning, permits, and on-board operational management.
Chapman Freeborn operates as part of Avia Solutions Group, an aviation holding company with a fleet of 145 aircraft across six continents. The group includes more than 250 subsidiaries and provides services across aircraft leasing under ACMI structures, maintenance, pilot and crew training, ground handling, and aviation support services. Its portfolio includes airlines such as Avion Express, BBN Indonesia Airlines, and KlasJet, positioning it across multiple segments of the aviation value chain.
Within this structure, Narayan will report directly to Group CEO Saska Gerasimova, who leads Chapman Freeborn. Gerasimova was appointed to the role in October 2025 and is based in Luxembourg. She joined the company from Amazon, where she served as Senior Supply Chain Manager for Amazon Air Europe, bringing experience in air logistics and supply chain operations.
