Who we are
Graeme Shanks,
Founder & Managing Director
Graeme is the founder and managing director of Ionic Aviation and has over sixteen years’ experience in the business and commercial aviation sectors.
Graeme previously served as Vice President, Business Aircraft Finance for CIT, where he led the origination, structuring, negotiation and funding of complex cross-border finance and leasing solutions for the buyers and owners of aircraft across the Middle East, Africa and India. Graeme thereafter worked as Director of Sales for business aircraft lessor Global Jet Capital, before leading the development of aviation services for an offshore professional services company.
Graeme began his career as an officer in the British Royal Navy. Upon graduating from Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Graeme was selected to attend the Royal Naval School of Fighter Control, where he completed his course as the only successful student. After serving in mine warfare vessels, frigates and destroyers, Graeme’s service culminated as an Air Director in aircraft carrier and then fleet flagship HMS Ark Royal, where, amongst other duties, he led a team of fighter controllers in the safe and effective conduct of air defence operations.
Following his naval service, Graeme entered the aviation industry with international defence and aerospace company Thales, before joining leading consulting company AMS Aircraft Services as Senior Vice President/Head of Marketing. In addition to managing the remarketing and sale of regional, narrow and wide body commercial aircraft, Graeme led the growth and development of the company’s business aviation services. This included aircraft sourcing and acquisitions, buyer representation during new aircraft deliveries, cabin completions’ management, repossessions and aircraft technical services for an international client base of private and corporate clients and a European head of state.
Graeme is a member of ISTAT (the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading) and The Aviation Club of the UK. An enthusiastic participant on the international aircraft finance and leasing circuit, Graeme has contributed as a speaker at numerous aviation industry events from Johannesburg to Marrakech, Dubai to the Isle of Man.