Newport Beach-based Aviation Capital Group LLC, one of the world’s biggest lessors of commercial aircraft, named Tom Baker as chief executive, replacing Khanh T. Tran, effective immediately.
Baker will also continue in his current role as chief revenue officer in charge of teams handling sales and marketing, trading, technical and aircraft financing solutions. Prior to joining ACG in 2016, Baker worked for Goldman Sachs’ Investment Banking Division covering clients in the Aviation & Transportation sectors.
Tran is retiring “to embark on a new chapter of his career,” the company said. Tran is remaining with the company until the end of this year to help ensure a smooth transition.
Tran worked for many years at Newport Beach Pacific Life Insurance Co. where he oversaw investments in ACG and its eventual acquisition in 2005. Last December, Pacific Life sold ACG to Tokyo Century.
Tran “has been instrumental in guiding ACG through a period of growth and change, which included Tokyo Century’s acquisition of ACG in December 2019 and the seamless transition in ownership thereafter,” ACG’s Executive Chair, Mahoko Hara said in the statement. “Khanh leaves ACG in a strong position for its next phase of growth and I am excited for ACG’s prospects under Tom’s leadership.”
