CANSO names current IATA Director of Government and Industry Affairs to role of director general effective 1 Jan. 2013

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., 5 Oct. 2012. The Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) has announced that Jeff Poole will assume the role of director general as of 1 Jan. 2013, replacing CANSO Interim Director General Samantha Sharif.

"I have long been an advocate of the need for CANSO to take a more proactive and leading role on behalf of its members and to be a stronger driver of positive and urgent change in the ATM (air traffic management) industry as a whole. I am absolutely delighted to now have the opportunity as the new DG of CANSO to step up to the challenge of helping to deliver on that promise, in accordance with the strategy agreed by the CANSO Executive Committee," Poole says.

Poole will, in his new position, work with the CANSO Executive Committee and CANSO Secretariat, expanded CANSO’s worldwide membership, and govern the association’s relationship with industry peers and stakeholders.

Poole currently serves as director of government and industry affairs at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), where he has pursued IATA’s industry priorities and airline regulatory issues with governmental authorities globally since 1 May 2011.

Poole spent more than seven years as IATA director of industry charges, fuel, and taxation, driving cost reductions in airport costs, air navigation charges, and aviation taxes.

Poole joined IATA in Feb. 2004 after having worked Airbus, Toulouse and at BAE Systems. He is experienced at working with governments and international institutions.