The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has announced plans to “speed-up its transformation program”.
Secretary general VladimirZubkov, whose term as secretary general was due to end in December this year, will continue supporting TIACA, pursuing the work with ICAO and supporting industry affairs and advocacy efforts.
During the transition phase, Celine Hourcade, formerly with IATA, will act as the transition director of TIACA to ensure business continuity until the future director general of TIACA is appointed.
Said a spokesperson for the association: “TIACA’s transformation journey started in 2018 with a primary objective to make the association financially sustainable and strong enough to take up the challenges requested and needed by its members in the long term.
“The second transformation priority is to adapt TIACA’s agenda and focus to the new challenges faced by the industry.
Steven Polmans, TIACA chairman, said: “Our last Executive Summit in Budapest in November 2019 received incredibly positive feedback, which encouraged us to redouble our efforts.
“While the COVID-19 crisis forced us to slow down on our new initiatives, it has highlighted the crucial nature of air cargo for economies and society, the need for greater and more efficient industry collaboration and the relevance of TIACA’s mission to unite the air cargo community.
“It has also been seen by the board as an opportunity to speed up TIACA’s transformation journey to better support our members and the air cargo community moving forward.”
Last month, upon recommendations from a special Transformation Task Force composed of seven Board members, TIACA’s Board of Directors voted unanimously in favour of the plan to accelerate the move to the “new TIACA”.
The goal of this final stage of TIACA’s transformation is to make the association “fit for its newly redefined purpose”.
TIACA has mandated the consulting firm Change Horizon to deliver its transformation program by the end of August 2020, with a revised governance structure and a fitter organizational set-up established.
Added the spokesperson: “As part of the change, the role of the secretary general will evolve. TIACA needs a director general accountable for the organization’s strategy, delivery model, team, financials.
“Today, this role is more limited and vaguely split between the chairman of the board and the secretary general and it leads to inefficiencies. The new TIACA needs to be more agile and responsive to the market’s needs.”
“The new TIACA will emerge with a revised mission, strong values and clear strategic priorities, in keeping with the industry’s expectations. Our new TIACA will be fit for its new purpose, able to deliver its ambitions while maximizing the value of its membership for the air cargo community,” added Polmans.