The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) earlier this month announced plans to “speed-up its transformation program” and create a full time post of director general, accountable for the organization’s “strategy, delivery model, team, financials”.
Steven Polmans, chairman of TIACA, was asked by Rogistics whether the incoming director general would be a TIACA ‘insider’ or even somebody from outside the air cargo industry?
Polmans said: “With all the challenges our industry and thus our association is facing, it will be a demanding full-time role. Since we are advocating change, it seems unlikely to me that the candidate will be an insider.
“Somebody who knows the industry, has an advantage. Somebody who know how to run an association too. A combination might be a perfect fit. But we are not necessarily limiting ourselves to this. A full job description will soon be available on our website and we hope to have many candidates from the industry and beyond.”
Polmans added that TIACA is are not waiting for the DG to arrive in order to put in place the revised mission: “Most of the changes will be done before so the DG can actually continue on the execution and delivery process.
“When it comes to our mission, our website and marketing material will soon be updated, as we are in the final process of finalising vision and mission as well as our key values. But all of them will reflect and make very clear who we want to be and what we want to do.”
Polmans said that TIACA secretary general Vladimir Zubkov has taken over the role of Industry Affairs.
He added: “Normally, his term as secretary general would stop at the end of this year. As we are planning to change the organisation afterwards with indeed a Director General and expanded responsibilities, we found it better to start this process already in all transparency and in due time for the planned Air Cargo Forum (ACF) and AGM later this year.
“Vladimir will in the meantime continue supporting TIACA and its members on Industry Affairs and be the voice of TIACA with ICAO. Therefore, Vladimir took over the role of Industry Affairs at TIACA.”
Polmans said: “We are changing the organisation and announcing how it will look in the future and what profile will take the helm. But Vladimir is still working for the association and is very much respected for what he is doing.”
