Aviation Finance Group Appoints Nigerian, Gemade, as Executive Vice President, COO

Aviation Finance Group Appoints Nigerian, Gemade, as Executive Vice President, COO

By Paul Awau

The Aviation Finance Group (AFG) has announced the appointment of Mr. Shiekuma Gemade as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), in what the company described as a bold move underscoring its commitment to innovation and operational excellence.

In a statement signed by Alhaji Taofeeq Abdullahi, AFG said Mr. Gemade, a seasoned aviation executive, brings to the role over two decades of global experience spanning aircraft operations, fleet strategy, and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) leadership.

“Mr. Gemade’s impressive track record positions him as a transformative addition to AFG’s leadership team,” the statement read.

Before joining Aircraft Finance Germany, Gemade served as Head of Fleet at Riyadh Air, where he led aircraft acquisitions, fleet planning, and the development of one of the aviation industry’s most ambitious new fleet programmes. His strategic insight, according to AFG, played a pivotal role in shaping the airline’s long-term aircraft roadmap.

He had earlier held senior positions at Atlas Air Worldwide and Titan Aviation Leasing, where he managed a multi-billion-dollar lease portfolio of widebody freighters and oversaw complex aircraft transactions across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

“His leadership in structuring and executing over $12 billion in aircraft acquisitions and leasing deals has earned him widespread industry respect,” AFG stated.

Mr. Gemade, the son of Nigeria’s former Senator and elder statesman, Chief Barnabas Gemade, began his aviation career at Delta Air Lines in the United States, where he rose from engineering roles within Delta Technical Operations to operational leadership, optimizing performance for the airline’s 450-aircraft DC fleet.

A proud Nigerian, Gemade had his early education in Gboko, Benue State, and completed his post-primary education in Jos, Plateau State, before pursuing higher studies abroad. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and a Master of Science in Aviation Management from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida — one of the world’s leading aviation institutions. He is also an FAA-licensed private pilot.

Welcoming him to the company, AFG described Gemade as “a visionary leader whose wealth of experience, innovation-driven mindset, and global exposure will strengthen AFG’s operational excellence and growth trajectory.”

“With this appointment,” the statement added, “AFG looks set to soar even higher, anchored by a homegrown talent whose career reflects the power of Nigerian brilliance on the global aviation stage.”