January 02, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company PLC (NAHCO Aviance) has announced the appointment of Mr. Olumuyiwa Olumekun as its Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO), effective January 1, 2025.

Olumekun succeeds Mr. Indranil Gupta, whose tenure ended on December 31, 2024.

In a notice to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) dated December 27, 2024, the company’s secretary, Mr. Bello Abdullahi, confirmed the board’s approval of Olumekun’s appointment and acknowledged Gupta’s retirement.

The statement read, “The board has approved the appointment of Mr. Olumuyiwa Olumekun as the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) of the company, effective January 1, 2025. Mr. Indranil Gupta, the outgoing GMD/CEO, retired on December 31, 2024, upon completing his service contract and has also retired from the board of directors.”

A seasoned executive with over 30 years of leadership experience, Olumekun brings a wealth of expertise across various industries. He previously served as NAHCO’s Group Executive Director of Corporate Services, retiring in February 2022.

During his tenure, he held multiple strategic roles, including Acting Managing Director (August 2021 – February 2022) and Executive Director of Corporate Services.

In these roles, Olumekun provided leadership to critical functions such as Human Resources, IT, Administrative Services, Procurement, and Infrastructure.

He was instrumental in implementing the company’s 2019–2023 strategic plan, which drove a 300% increase in profitability.

In 2019, he led NAHCO’s Commercial and Business Development efforts, later transitioning to head the Corporate Services Directorate.

Since 2022, Olumekun has served as a Non-Executive Director on the boards of NAHCO subsidiaries, including NAHCO Free Trade Zone, NAHCO Commodities Limited, NAHCO Travels & Hospitality Limited, and NAHCO Logistics.

Olumekun holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Ibadan (1985) and is an alumnus of the Lagos Business School, where he completed the Chief Executive and Advanced Management Programmes.

Before joining NAHCO, Olumekun spent 23 years at Red Star Express PLC (FedEx), where he retired as Executive Director in 2015.

At Red Star, he managed the FedEx brand and oversaw key functions, including Sales, Marketing, Operations, Strategy & Business Development, Customer Service, and IT. He also served on the board of directors for a decade.

Olumekun’s appointment marks a new chapter for NAHCO as it continues to solidify its position as a leader in aviation handling services in Nigeria and beyond. With his extensive experience and proven track record, stakeholders anticipate continued growth and innovation under his leadership.