We’ve collectively closed and delivered hundreds of leasing transactions, and managed leases, throughout the world.
FWCAS Team
Jonty Nel
Mr. Nel joined as Chief Executive Officer of FWCAS in April 2022.
Prior to joining FWCAS, Mr. Nel worked at GE Capital Aviation Services for 13 years. During his time at GECAS, Mr. Nel held the role of Executive Vice President – International, where he was responsible for overall commercial strategy and leadership of the global commercial passenger & cargo commercial teams in all countries, except the US and China. In this role, Mr. Nel reported directly to the GECAS CEO. Prior to this role, Mr. Nel was Senior Vice President and Regional Manager, leading a team responsible for managing 220 aircraft leases and loans in the MEA and Russia/CIS region.
Mr. Nel graduated with a Bachelors of Commerce in Finance from the University of South Africa and received a MSc in Financial Economics from the University of London and an MBA from London Business School.
Pat Laffan
Mr. Laffan joined as Chief Financial Officer of FWCAS in March 2022.
Prior to joining FWCAS, Mr. Laffan spent 20 years at GE Capital Aviation Services where he most recently held the role of Commercial Finance Manager. During his time at GECAS he also held roles including Global FP&A leader and SVP Structured Finance. Mr. Laffan is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland having qualified with PwC.
He graduated with a BBS from University of Limerick and received his MBA from UCD Smurfit Business School, Dublin.
Liam Creaven
Mr. Creaven joined as Chief Technical Officer of FWCAS in February 2022.
Mr. Creaven held positions in aeronautical design and development, aircraft heavy maintenance and aviation regulation prior to entering aircraft leasing with GECAS in 1998. At GECAS, Mr. Creaven held the role of regional technical manager covering the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, and Russia followed by covering India, China, Japan, South East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Mr. Creaven has managed major modification programs for GECAS, including B737 passenger to freighter conversions, and has been involved in the development of new European regulations at EASA as the representative of the leasing community nominated by the Aviation Working Group.
Mr. Creaven holds a mechanical engineering degree from Trinity College Dublin and an MBA from Manchester Business School.
Simon Siganto
Mr. Siganto joined as Chief Legal Officer of FWCAS in July 2022.
Mr. Siganto has over 20 years of experience in the aviation finance industry, working closely with both lessors and airlines. In 2015 Mr. Siganto joined GECAS where he was lead in-house counsel covering aircraft lease transactions in the emerging markets. Prior to joining GECAS, Mr. Siganto held various corporate counsel and senior management roles in the airline sector for carries including Emirates, SkyAirWorld, and PNG Air. Mr. Siganto started his aviation legal career at Allens in Sydney, where his clients included Ansett and AWAS.
Mr. Siganto is an Australian qualified lawyer with a BA/LLB from the University of Queensland.
Stephen Cook
Mr Cook retired from Macquarie Group in September 2021 and as Chairman of Macquarie AirFinance in September 2023. He was a senior member of Macquarie for over 35 years and immediately before his retirement had been the Global Head of Transportation Finance, Chairman of MAM Private Credit and had served on the Management Committee of the Group for a number of years.
Mr Cook was the driving force behind the establishment and growth of Macquarie AirFinance from a newly formed business in 2006 to a leading lessor with a 250+ aircraft portfolio. This included leading many landmark transactions, such as the US$ 2bn acquisition of a 52 aircraft portfolio from ILFC in 2010, the US$4bn acquisition of an 88 aircraft portfolio in 2015, and the US$650m acquisition of Waypoint Leasing (Helicopters) in 2018. Mr Cook also built substantial Rail platforms in both the US and Europe and lead the divestment of these businesses for Macquarie in 2015 and 2020 at significant gains for Macquarie.
Mr Cook joined Macquarie in 1986 and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales.