Cian is the Head of Aircraft & Asset Management Origination, which is responsible for ORIX Aviation’s aircraft acquisitions and developing the organisations asset management portfolio.
Cian joined ORIX Aviation in 2014. Prior to being appointed to his current role, Cian held various roles within commercial, acquisitions and corporate planning and investment.
Cian has over 10 years’ experience in aviation. Prior to joining ORIX Aviation, Cian worked with the aircraft component manufacture, Precision Castparts Corporation. Cian holds a BSc and Masters in Engineering (Mechanical) from University College Dublin and an Executive MBA from London Business School with a focus on finance and leadership.
Fraser Rath currently holds the position of Head of Technical Operations in ORIX Aviation and is based in our Dubai office where he oversees the team managing technical projects and engineering services across the ORIX fleet. Fraser joined ORIX Aviation in 2015.
Prior to joining ORIX Aviation, Fraser worked for Bombardier Aerospace as a Design Engineer specialising in new aircraft design and previously worked in the Customer Services Department in Airbus, Toulouse.
Fraser holds a First-Class Honours Bachelor of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Limerick and a Diploma in Aviation Leasing and Finance from the Law Society of Ireland.
Ciara is currently head of ORIX Aviation’s Business Alignment and Information Technology division, a position she has held since 2022.
Ciara has over sixteen years’ experience in Financial Services and joined ORIX Aviation in 2020. Prior to joining ORIX Aviation, Ciara worked in AerCap’s Information Technology team in both Business Analyst and Program Manager roles. Previously Ciara worked with Citco, FNZ and UBS Investment Bank in the UK in a variety IT and Finance related roles.
Ciara holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree having studied Economics and Mathematical Studies at University College Cork, a Masters in Business Studies from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and a Diploma in Business Analysis.
Kevin is head of ORIX Aviation’s Financial Operations & Contracts Management division, a position he has held since 2021.
Kevin has over 10 years’ experience in Financial Services, having worked as part of Grant Thornton’s Aviation Advisory team prior to joining ORIX Aviation. Kevin has also held roles in Deloitte (Dublin), KPMG (Dublin) and Cross Country Consulting (New York) working in a variety of consulting and audit roles.
Kevin holds an Honours Degree in Corporate Law from National University of Ireland, Galway, an Honours Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting from Dublin City University and is a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland. Kevin is also certified in PRINCE2 Project Management.
Ryujiro Tokuma became a member of ORIX Aviation’s Board in 2022. He also serves as Executive Officer and Head of Global Transportation Services Headquarters of ORIX Corporation, the sole shareholder of ORIX Aviation.
Mr. Tokuma joined ORIX Corporation in April 1996 and leads ORIX’s ship business segment as President of ORIX Maritime Corporation since March 2012 and the Head of Ship and Marine Project Group since September 2014.
Mr. Tokuma holds a Bachelor Degree in Law from Aoyama Gakuin University.
Helfried is the General Counsel at ORIX Aviation and began working for the company in February 2021.
Prior to joining ORIX, Helfried was a partner in Milbank LLP’s Transportation and Space Group where he practiced for over 30 years. During his extensive time at Milbank, Helfried was based in the firm’s New York, Frankfurt and London offices, and served as managing partner of the firm’s Frankfurt office from 2001 to 2005. Before joining Milbank, Helfried worked as a tax associate for PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York, and a commercial law firm in his hometown of Vienna.
Helfried is highly regarded as one of the top aviation lawyers globally, including consistent recognition from Chambers USA as a “Band 1” Aviation Finance Lawyer, The International Who’s Who of Aviation Lawyers, ILFR Notable Practitioners, Legal 500 USA and the Legal Media Group’s Best of the Best (Top 30) Aviation. In addition to this significant industry-specific recognition, Helfried was a longtime member of the Legal Advisory Panel to the Aviation Working Group and served as a Board Member of the New York University Law Alumni Association.
Helfried holds a Master of Laws in Comparative Jurisprudence from New York University School of Law and a Doctor Juris from the University of Vienna.
David is head of ORIX Aviation’s Finance division and Senior Accounting Officer to ORIX Corporation.
He has over twenty years’ experience working in financial services, holding various positions in practice with KPMG Ireland and within the wider financial services sector. This includes over eight years working within aviation finance, both in aviation consulting and the industry, as Chief Financial Officer for Cross Ocean Partners Ireland.
David holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin and is a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland.
Kei Kitagawa has served as a director since April 2020. Mr. Kitagawa is a member of the Board of Directors of ORIX Aviation. He also serves as Deputy Executive Officer, Deputy Head of Global Transportation Services Headquarters and Head of Aviation and Investment Group for ORIX Corporation, the sole shareholder of ORIX Aviation, with approximately 20 years’ experience in the aviation industry.
Mr. Kitagawa joined ORIX Corporation in 1998 and has responsibility for ORIX Group’s business strategies and budgets in the aviation industry and a core role pioneering the Japanese Operating Leasing in the Japanese market. Mr. Kitagawa was appointed to the Head of Aviation and Investment Group in May 2015, Deputy Head of Global Transportation Services Headquarters in January 2019 and Operating Officer in January 2024.
He holds a Bachelor Degree in Law and a MBA in Finance from Chuo University, Tokyo.
James is the Chief Executive Officer of ORIX Aviation Systems Limited and ORIX Aviation Management ME Ltd. with 23 years’ experience in the aviation industry. Prior to this, he held the positions of Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Commercial Officer of ORIX Aviation. James is a Board Director of the company since 2015. He has served as a Board Director of Avolon since February 2022.
James worked with ORIX Aviation from 2002 to 2007 and was Vice President of Acquisitions, New Business and Capital Markets. James spent two years as Managing Director, Head of Marketing and Capital Markets for Aergo Capital Group before returning to ORIX Aviation in 2009. James has also held previous positions as Executive Assistant to Tony Ryan and CFO of TARA Aerospace, along with a senior management role in the aviation team at KBC Aerospace Finance.
He holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree in Banking and Finance from University College Dublin. James was previously elected to the Board of Directors of ISTAT for a four-year term from 2015 to 2019 and currently serves as Chairman of the Wings Club Foundation European Chapter.
