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SkyUp is a Ukrainian private airline that began operations in 2018. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the airline undertook a strategic shift, expanding into ACMI and charter operations across Europe and international markets.
As part of this transition, SkyUp engaged AeroProfessional to support the executive search for a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to help lead the next phase of its operational development.
At a Glance...
The Situation…
Since its founding, SkyUp has followed an upward trajectory, becoming one of the largest air carriers in Ukraine. However, due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, the airline was required to adapt its operational model.
As part of this transition, SkyUp relocated its operations to Europe, launching wet lease contracts and charter services for tour operators, sports teams, non-state organisations and charitable foundations. In May 2023, SkyUp MT obtained a Maltese AOC, enabling the airline to operate effectively within the European market and support future growth.
Following this expansion, SkyUp required the appointment of a Chief Operating Officer (COO) with experience in European airline operations to support its continued development.
AeroProfessional is an aviation recruitment consultancy with specialist executive search and selection expertise. With extensive industry experience and a proven track record in senior placements, AeroProfessional supports airlines in securing high-calibre leadership talent.
The Solution…
Once SkyUp had defined the expectations for the COO role, AeroProfessional began a targeted search across its C-level network, engaging both active and passive candidates aligned with the role requirements. A key criterion was extensive experience within the European ACMI market, alongside a strong understanding of European regulatory frameworks and operating conditions.
In addition to its executive network, AeroProfessional expanded the search through carefully controlled outreach to its wider candidate community. With SkyUp's approval, this included targeted campaigns to ensure visibility among senior aviation professionals.
AeroProfessional's executive search specialists initiated the interview process efficiently, identifying candidates whose experience and leadership capability matched the requirements of the COO position. Each candidate was also assessed for alignment with SkyUp's organisational culture and operational objectives.
The Results…
Following the initial outreach, AeroProfessional identified candidates who best matched the COO role, based on their industry knowledge, leadership capability, and ACMI experience within European markets. The shortlisted candidates progressed to interviews with SkyUp's leadership team, who selected their preferred candidate.
Throughout the selection process, particular emphasis was placed on identifying a leader capable of driving operational performance and supporting SkyUp's strategic development within the European market.
AeroProfessional supported the process by providing market insight and conducting a structured executive search, ensuring that shortlisted candidates met both the technical and leadership requirements of the role.
The successful candidate demonstrated the experience and capability required to support SkyUp's evolving business model and long-term objectives.
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Throughout the consultation phase, it became evident that SkyUp is a remarkable airline with very skilled personnel. They wanted to enhance this talent by securing a senior C-Level executive with European AOC experience to support and guide them through the airline's expansion into this new market. Having supported many airlines with their specialist C-Level recruitment over the past 20 years, we had the ideal experience and network to secure the perfect match for both client and candidate.
Rob Parker
Sales Manager
AeroProfessional
We sincerely appreciate the collaboration with AeroProfessional for their impeccable professionalism and reliability. It was a great and fruitful experience that we're extremely satisfied with. Building a team can be a challenge, and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine made it even more so. We transformed our activities, obtained a European operator's certificate, and scaled our operations globally. Thus, we've demonstrated through actions that we can be trusted, while AeroProfessional helped us pick the right people. It was our first experience of its kind, and, in our belief, it was a perfect match, with every effort worth pursuing.
Kira Soldatova
Head of Talent Acquisition
SkyUp Airlines
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