Post Year: 2012

– LCI has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Esteban Tripodi as Executive Vice President, Americas.

Mr Tripodi, who joins LCI this week, will be based in the company’s New York office. Working across the marketing and capital markets divisions for both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, his primary focus will be on the Americas region.

Prior to joining LCI, Tripodi was a Senior Vice President with Aircastle Advisor where he was responsible for the capital markets function, and subsequently marketing and origination. Whilst with the company, he oversaw a wide range of structured financing initiatives, transactions, investments and securitizations.

Mike Platt, LCI’s Chief Executive Officer, says: “Esteban has built a well-earned reputation in the industry as a highly effective and experienced aircraft leasing professional; he will be a great asset to LCI and our clients.”

Tripodi started his career in aircraft finance at Pegasus Aviation as Structured Finance Director, and subsequently became Vice President (Asset Backed Securities) at Guggenheim Capital Markets where he originated and structured the company’s first aircraft ABS repack security. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School and an industrial engineering degree from the Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires.

Esteban Tripodi says: “LCI’s proven track record and dynamic approach make it a compelling company to be a part of. With its recent move into the helicopter sector, this is an exciting time to be joining this innovative lessor.”

At the same time, LCI also announces the promotion of Nigel Leishman to Executive Vice President, Asia Pacific. Leishman’s role has been expanded to cover both the fixed wing and helicopter leasing sectors. He joined LCI as a Vice President in 2008 at the opening of its Singapore operation, and has led it ever since with responsibility for LCI’s business development throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

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LCI, the aviation division of global conglomerate the Libra Group, and AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, have signed an agreement covering the purchase of a fleet of AW139, AW169 and AW189 helicopters for a new division being set up by the lessor. The related contract, which also includes options, is valued in excess of US$400 million. Building on its successful growth in the narrow and wide-body fixed-wing leasing market, LCI’s new helicopter division plans to offer helicopter operators an attractive alternative to buying and financing the purchase of rotary wing aircraft. LCI expects to be active in a number of markets including offshore oil and gas, Search & Rescue and aero-medical transport.

Crispin Maunder, Executive Chairman, LCI, said after the signing: “Today’s announcement is the culmination of careful analysis and observation of this sector. As a dynamic lessor we are confident that now is the time to make this move given the high level of unfulfilled demand for new generation helicopters, which the innovative, market-leading AgustaWestland helicopters are well placed to meet.”

Emilio Dalmasso, Senior VP Commercial Business, AgustaWestland, said after the signing: “We are delighted to have signed this agreement with LCI for AW139, AW169 and AW189 helicopters which adds a brand new kind of customer to our list of clients. LCI’s decision to enter the helicopter business by investing in the latest generation of rotorcraft technology highlights its confidence in the opportunities offered by the commercial helicopter market in years to come.”

LCI will benefit from the commonality in design across the AW139, AW169 and AW189 family of new generation helicopters, due for delivery over the next five years. As well as possessing the same high performance flight characteristics and safety features the helicopters share a common cockpit layout, design philosophy and maintenance concepts that will allow more effective operations for customers operating helicopter fleets from 4 to 8.5 tonnes.

Since its inception in 2004, LCI has acquired aircraft with a value approaching US$5 billion. Today the company has a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft on lease to some of the world’s leading airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Air France and Asiana. LCI is also a launch customer for the Bombardier CSeries and has placed an order for 20 aircraft valued at approximately US$1.4 billion, with options for a further 20. 

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