Eddy Pieniazek

Director & Global Head of Consultancy

Eddy brings over 27 years’ experience in the aviation sector to his role as Director of Ascend’s global consultancy, industry analysis, asset valuation, and technical services.  He is a trusted advisor to Ascend clients and his most recent engagements have involved supporting the leading airframe and engine manufacturers, operating lessors, and financial institutions.

Eddy is a regular conference speaker and a visiting lecturer at the Air Business Academy in Toulouse, specialising in aircraft values, market dynamics, and asset management.

Les Weal

Director of Valuations and Appraisals

As Head of Valuations and Appraisals, Les' primary responsibility is the development of Ascend’s Future Values databases, covering commercial aircraft, engines, simulators and spares.  Les is also responsible for the valuation and appraisal of aircraft of all types and provides support and analysis on all industry matters relating to values and market dynamics.

Peter Morris

Chief Economist

Peter is a veteran of over 25 years’ in the air transport industry.  His expertise spans strategic and economic studies, industry forecasts and a range of traffic, capacity, revenue and cost analyses.

Before joining Ascend in 2003, Peter was Chief Economist and Director, Research Consultancy for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), where he developed IATA’s Aviation Information & Research (AIR) department into a leading global commercial supplier of air transport information and research.

Peter is a regular media commentator on the aviation industry and the impact of new market developments. He holds a BSc in Economics and a MSc in Energy Economics.

Paul Hayes

Director of Air Safety

Few people in aviation can match Paul’s nearing 35 years’ experience in air safety and his achievements as a trusted advisor to governments, regulators, insurance markets and airlines worldwide. Paul joined Ascend in 1974, having previously worked for National Air Traffic Services at London Heathrow Airport.

With his extensive international consultancy experience, Paul has led the development of several of Ascend’s key aviation and space offerings.

Paul’s unique achievements include assisting Russia to present the former USSRs’ full airline safety record to the international aviation insurance market – work that led to close co-operation between Russia and the CIS and the release of data on some 600 airline accidents not previously recorded in the West.  Paul has also been instrumental in managing the research and production of the CP479, the World Aircraft Accident Summary in collaboration with UK’s Civil Aviation Authority.

Phil Davies

Director of Operations

With over 20 years senior-level experience in project and programme management, Phil joined Ascend in 2007 to realise best practice across Ascend’s consultancy solutions. Phil’s expertise spans strategic business planning and development, quality assurance and operational improvement. Phil was previously Managing Consultant at Serco Consulting and held senior posts with IBM Business Consulting Services, PwC Consulting and British Airways.

Paul Sheridan

Head of Consultan

Paul joined Ascend in January 2010 after 10 years within the aviation industry. Paul started his career at Aer Lingus in Revenue Management, Paul moved to RBS Aviation Capital in the Investor Markets team where he worked on debt syndication, structured finance and aircraft trading. After 3 years at RBS he moved on to ANZ and worked within Structured Debt looking at Asset Finance and Infrastructure Finance. Paul’s last post before joining Ascend was at ING focused on Aircraft Finance.

Chris Seymour

Head of Market Analysis

With more than 23 years' aviation experience, Chris has responsibility for many of Ascend's comprehensive market studies, covering a wide variety of aircraft types. He also performs appraisals of commercial aircraft and prepares the company's forecast of aircraft deliveries. Chris is a specialist in helicopter valuations.

Tony Brooks

Senior Aviation Analyst

Anthony has worked in the Consultancy arm of Ascend for over 14 years and is a trusted advisor to Banks, Lessors, Lawyers and Manufacturers.

Anthony specialises in the appraisal of Executive Jets Helicopters and General Aviation aircraft and is one of the few certified ISTAT (International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading) Appraisers in the world. Anthony has attained comprehensive experience as an Expert Witness in various Executive Jet , Helicopter and General Aviation assignments including those where a Diminution in Value is contested. 

Olga Razzhivina

Manager of Valuation Services

Olga joined Ascend in 2004 and is currently responsible for producing the aircraft values, appraisal of portfolios and bespoke market studies. Olga is one of the few Certified ISTAT (International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading) asset appraisers, and is a trusted analyst to many of Ascend's clients. Some of her current engagements involve supporting the leading airframe and engine manufacturers, operating lessors, and financial institutions.

Prior to joining Ascend, Olga held a number of executive posts within the commercial aviation industry, including positions at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Avmark. Olga holds an MBA in Aviation (with Distinction) from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Olga speaks Russian, English and German.

George Dimitroff

Senior Aviation Analyst

George joined Ascend in 2005, having previously worked for Airbus and United Airlines in various roles. He focuses mainly on aircraft and engine valuations, but also writes regular updates on the latest state of the aviation marketplace. George holds a degree in Air Transport Engineering from City University in London.

Christine Jie Yan

Regional Senior Aviation Analyst

With more than 11 years experience of the Asian commercial aviation industry, Christine's primary responsibilities are project management, market studies and business development in Asia.

Prior to joining Ascend, Christine was Senior Markets & Airline Analyst at Bombardier Aerospace and Manager of International Affairs at China Southern Airlines. Christine holds a MBA from Richard Ivey School of Business and a BA (Hons.) in English from Jinan University, China. She speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and English, and is based in Ascend's Hong Kong office.

Lukasz Pawlowski

Senior Analyst

Lukasz joined Ascend in 2007, after working as a Project Analyst for Goldstone Network Ltd., a start-up company based in London. Lukasz supports both the Consultancy and Product Development teams at Ascend. His main focus is delivering aircraft & engine valuations and conducting market studies. Lukasz is also involved in the development of existing and future products in Ascend's pipeline, as well as maintaining the Ascend Values database.

Lukasz holds a degree in Economics from the University of Freiburg, Germany, and speaks Polish, English and German. 

Pascal Shakarjian

Data Manager

Since joining Ascend in 2006, Pascal has been involved in a number of key projects for Ascend's Airport Planning and Management team. He has more than 10 years of experience in the market research field, which includes 5 years in the aviation industry. Pascal has also undertaken several marketing related courses to enhance his knowledge and understanding.

He is responsible the development of detailed analytical studies and market research projects, in addition to producing various analytical models. Recent projects he worked on are located in the Middle East and North Africa regions due to his understanding of the local markets and ability to speak Arabic fluently.

Dicky Tse

Regional Aviation Analyst

Dicky joined Ascend in 2008 from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he was a Research Assistant for the Aviation Policy & Research Centre, advising the local carriers, government and regulatory bodies on aviation related policies. He was also an aircraft parts trader for Topcast Aviation, responsible for sourcing parts for major airlines and air forces in Southeast Asia.

At Ascend, he primarily focuses on aircraft/engine valuations and market commentaries, contributes to Ascend's quarterly publication V1ewpoint and delivers detailed market analysis for Ascend's airport economics and market studies groups. Dicky holds an MSc in Airport Planning and Management, and a BEng (Hons.) in Aeronautical Engineering from Loughborough University. Dicky is based in the Ascend Hong Kong office and is an Associate of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Chris Wills

Aviation Analyst

Chris joined Ascend in May 2007 as a member of the Data Team. Having graduated from Loughborough University in 2006 with a degree in Air Transport Management with a Diploma in Industrial studies. 

In November 2007 Chris moved on to the year long Management Development Programme and covered positions in the Consultancy, Airport Economics and Product Development. Having completed the programme Chris became a permanent member of the Consultancy Department. Following a secondment to the New York Office providing valuation and appraisal services. In addition to these services, Chris is the editor for Ascend's regular update, Inside Track on Values, as well as specialising in the Full Flight Simulator and aircrew training market.      

Michael Lapson                                                        

Senior Analyst

Michael joined Ascend as a Senior Analyst in the consulting practice, where he is investigating the linkage between aircraft valuation and air freight transportation demand.

Prior to Ascend, Michael held a position with Moffat & Nichol as a Lead Transportation Analyst providing strategic advisement  to shipping ports and financial due diligence for transactions involving freight transportation infrastructure.

Michael draws upon his education in Transportation Engineering and Industrial Engineering.                                                                                        

Daniel Hall                                                               

Aviation Analyst

Daniel joins Ascend as a recent graduate from Loughborough University, holding a BSc degree in Air Transport Management. As part of his degree, Daniel completed a placement year with a business jet aircraft management company based at Farnborough Airport in the UK where a number of projects were undertaken, including; route and airport studies, and managing an aircraft budget system, following extensive research into associated fixed and variable costs.

At Ascend, Daniel will be working on detailed aircraft & engine valuations, research and analysis, understanding their volatility to market change. In addition to this, he will actively assist the consultancy project team with providing input into market commentaries on aircraft types covering commercial, business, and general aviation sectors. 

Matthew Taussig

Aviation Analyst

Based in London, Matthew joins Ascend as a graduate from Loughborough University, holding a BSc DIS degree in Air Transport Management.  

Prior to Ascend, Matthew has had experience with easyJet, the UK CAA and TAG Aviation where he worked in the flight safety & pilot training departments - investigating aircraft incidents, establishing the company's SMS, as well as training TAG flight and cabin crews. 

At Ascend, Matthew's primary focus will be on aircraft valuations, research & analysis, and understanding their volatility to market change. In addition to this, Matthew will assist the consultancy project team with providing input into market commentaries on aircraft types covering commercial, business and General Aviation sectors. 

Joanna Lu

Senior Aviation Analyst

Based in Hong Kong, Joanna's focus is on global airport projects, project management as well as supporting the Asian business development.  Joanna joined Ascend in 2010, having previously

 worked for GCW Consulting and Shanghai Airlinesin various roles. 

With 10 years experience in the Asian Commercial Aviation Industry, Joanna brings valuable project management, aviation demand analysis and airport strategic and technical planning experiences.

Joanna holds an MSc in Airport Planning and Management from Loughborough University, and a BEng in Aviation Administration from Shanghai University of Engineering Science.