UK-headquartered Gama Aviation has appointed Simon To, a current non-executive director of the company, as chairman with immediate effect. Now that a successor has been found, Sir Ralph Robins retires from the board.

To is managing director of Hutchison Whampoa (China) and chairman of Hutchison China Meditech, a biopharmaceutical company listed on AIM and Nasdaq with a market capitalisation of around $3.9 billion. Previously he was an independent non-executive director on the boards of China Southern Airlines Company and Air China. He has been vice chairman of the board of Guangzhou-based aircraft maintenance company GAMECO since 1989 and serves as the chairman of China Aircraft Services, in which Gama has a 20 per cent shareholding.

Robins comments: “Simon brings extensive expertise and experience in global aviation leadership roles, gaining insight and knowledge of the group through his existing non-executive director role at Gama. We are confident that he will provide the requisite leadership to both the board and the Group's executive management team.”

To adds: “I remain committed to the strategic vision for Gama which lay behind Hutchison's investment in February 2018. I will work very closely with the executive management team in addressing Gama's current challenges and setting up a platform for future success for the benefit of all shareholders.”

The board has been informed that Hutchison China, which owns 21.17 per cent of Gama's ordinary shares, has no intention of bidding for the company.