Global aviation leader adds critical links to its supply chain in Europe and beyond

WOOD DALE, Illinois – AAR (NYSE: AIR) has fortified its supply chain service offerings with the appointment of Deepak Sharma as President of International Supply Chain. Sharma is leading a newly assembled international team based in Gatwick, England, United Kingdom to power AAR’s global expansion.

Sharma brings 20 years of industry experience driving revenue growth in diverse roles and challenging markets. Before he joined AAR in 2015, Sharma worked as Chief Technical Officer at AJW Group and, earlier, as Director of Engineering at UK International Airlines. Key players on his team include:

• Colin Craig, a 35-year industry veteran, started his career with FLS Aerospace, based at Stansted Airport in the UK, in the Component Management Group, where he fulfilled a number of managerial roles. With SR Technics UK, he moved up to Vice President, Account Management, for the Component Services business. He also served on SR Technics’ senior leadership team, including as a board member of SR Technics Spain and Accountable Manager for the UK businesses. Most recently Craig was Director of Contract Services and Commercial Director at AJW Aviation, responsible for growth of the contracted and power-by-the-hour (PBH) business.

• Nick Price, a 20-year industry veteran, also started his career with FLS Aerospace at Stansted Airport in the Component Management Group. He fulfilled a number of roles based on PBH support programs, loans, sales and exchanges and priority support. With SR Technics UK, he moved up to Head of Customer Services for the Component Services business and was part of the senior leadership team. In 2010, Nick moved to AJW Aviation as Director of Contract Services in charge of the PBH customer base. Later, he took on the role of Director of Strategic Operations. He was also the Chair of the senior management team responsible for delivering various internal and customer facing improvement projects.

“The international supply chain team is committed to delivering exceptional service and proactive understanding of demand,” Sharma said. “Equally important, AAR is equipping us to do so.”

AAR ranks among the world’s leading providers of aftermarket aircraft parts and inventory support, as well as new OEM components. AAR is one of the largest providers of air-on-ground (AOG) service and PBH support for airlines worldwide with more than 800 aircraft under management. AAR serves customers in more than 100 countries from sales and service locations in Singapore, Japan, China, Abu Dhabi and Australia, as well as the U.S., UK, France and Germany, so customers get the right part at the right time.

AAR continues to invest in inventory to support its large and growing customer base, with an emphasis on modern airframe and engine platforms. The Company integrates cutting-edge technology into its proprietary inventory management platform, which uses demand-forecasting algorithms so that AAR stocks the right parts at the right place at the right time, with real-time visibility for operators.

“We soon will debut mobile apps to make it even easier for our customers to access our parts inventory,” Sharma said. “I am proud to work for a trusted Company that has the vision and the means to not only update its offerings, but also to extend its global reach. AAR does it right.”