The International Air Cargo Association has elected Turhan Özen, chief cargo officer of Turkish Airlines, to its board.

Özen has extensive knowledge of Turkey and its neighbouring regions, having overseen business development in the Balkans, Middle East and African regions.

“The air cargo industry requires effective leadership to manage the changes demanded by continuously diversified customer needs,” said Özen. “That leadership needs to be the clear manifestation of the common will to enable us to establish well-functioning processes and a sustainable future vision. I believe that my board membership at TIACA will contribute to this leadership in terms of a positive way for the change and for the development of the international air cargo sector.”

Turkish Airlines moved all of its passenger operations from Ataturk Airport to the new Istanbul Airport in April. Freighter operations are due to move when the new Turkish Cargo facility at the airport is completed.

“With a sizeable and impressive new airport, Turkey is set to become a major aviation transport hub between Europe and Asia,” said Sebastiaan Scholte, chairman of TIACA and chief executive officer of Jan de Rijk Logistics. “Because Turhan will be present on the ground as this major project works towards completion, his insight will prove invaluable to the TIACA board and its members.”

Özen is one of several new members to join the TIACA board as part of an ongoing strategy to focus more on members and content.