The EBAA has appointed seasoned EU professional Holger Krahmer as secretary general. He is set to take over the reins of the association starting 1 January, 2024 and succeeds previous EBAA secretary general Athar Husain Khan, who passed away earlier this year.

With nearly two decades of dedicated service to the EU institutions, Krahmer brings a deep understanding of the intricacies of the institutions and the political landscape in Brussels. His tenure in the European Parliament, from 2004 to 2014, saw him influence major dossiers in the transport sector, notably driving critical discussions around the incorporation of airlines into the EU's Emission Trading Scheme and the Single European Sky initiative.

“We are very pleased to welcome Holger at EBAA, especially during these challenging times for business aviation in Europe,” says EBAA chairman Juergen Wiese. “Given his diverse industry experience, notable tenure in Brussels as a legislator and a commendable record in transport industry advocacy, we are optimistic about fortifying both EBAA and European business aviation under his guidance.”

The NBAA welcomes the move, with president and CEO Ed Bolen saying: “NBAA joins the rest of the aviation community in welcoming Holger Krahmer as EBAA secretary general. Holger brings to the position a background in both government service and transportation sector advocacy. His ability to leverage effective partnerships will serve the industry well, especially at a moment characterised by significant challenges and promising opportunities. We look forward to working with him and his team to advance our shared priorities in Europe and around the world.”

Krahmer's journey beyond the Parliament continued to be steeped in leadership. Since 2015, he has played pivotal roles in the automotive sector, notably with Opel/Groupe PSA as director, European affairs. For the last few years he has been the face of Mercedes-Benz Group (formerly Daimler) in Brussels, serving as the head of the group representative office.

Before embarking on his journey with the EU, Krahmer's professional roots were in the banking sector, where he enriched institutions like Commerzbank and Berliner Bank with his expertise from 1990 to 2004.

“Being intimately familiar with the challenges of the European transportation sector and how the European institutions work, I look forward to this exciting position," says Krahmer. "I am well aware of the huge tasks that lie ahead to ensure that business aviation will continue to thrive, connect regions and enable economic and societal development as well as serve as an incubator for innovations to the overall aviation industry.”

Krahmer's appointment is an opportunity to usher in renewed insights, especially in light of his in-depth understanding of the aviation and automotive sectors within the EU context. His leadership is poised to enhance EBAA's stature as a pivotal voice for business aviation in Europe, championing the interests of its expansive member base of over 700 entities.

Holding German nationality, Krahmer adeptly bridges the domains of politics and industry. The European Business Aviation Association looks forward to a period of significant collaborations and progress under his guidance.