Dave Edwards has been appointed to the role of CEO at BACA – The Air Charter Association on a part-time basis. In addition, Madeleine Puzey has been promoted to the role of business and events manager, while a new administration role has been created that will be filled by Nicki Baynes.

Known widely throughout the industry, Edwards has had a long and distinguished career in aviation and is an active director and investor in Synergy Aviation, Oaklands Global, Flying Support and Web Manuals International, which he will continue alongside his BACA duties. He has led Qatar Executive, the business aviation division of Qatar Airways, and was MD for the Middle East and Asia and group general manager at Gama Aviation. The appointment was announced at the BACA autumn awards lunch.

He says: “The opportunity to join BACA and help to reenergise its role at the heart of the air charter broking industry is one I found difficult to turn down. BACA is a very diverse organisation, well known for its industry networking events, but increasingly it is revisiting its roots at the centre of the air charter broking world and investing significantly in conferences, training, parliamentary and regulatory authority representation, working hard for the interests of its members and the larger broking community.

“With the support of a very keen and enthusiastic council I'm really looking forward to the opportunity and challenge of using my experience, alongside my existing roles within the heart of the aviation industry, to develop our association further on its future strategy to bring added value and additional support to our members.”

BACA chairman Richard Mumford adds: “I am delighted to welcome Dave Edwards to this key role within the association. It has been a fantastic year for BACA, with record membership and a range of successful events, including our first co-branding of ACE at London Biggin Hill. This proves the potential that we have to grow. By appointing Dave, we have someone who can harness the council to ensure that the depth of skills and experience among us are properly employed to the benefit of members. I am sure that the creation of the CEO role, together with the other appointments we have made, will prove to be a major step forward for us.”"