Brian Jeffery informed me on Saturday that he has resigned from his position as Group Treasurer at Emirates Airline. I thought, more than anything else, I would give this news some time to filter out before posting this message given that in such situations when one’s friend resigns it is clear that he alone should be the one to inform all those that should hear the same first hand before the media (me in this case) blurt out the situation to all and sundry. So I want to treat this editorial today not so much as news, but more as me using this somewhat elevated position of mass readership to say good luck to a person who I would sum-up as an all-round great guy with a strong sense of fair play.
Brian confirmed to me his pride at being part of the successful Emirates finance team over the last seven and a half years: “I am proud to have built up a first-class award-winning team that is more than capable of maintaining and improving what I hope is a reputation for excellence and openness. But I feel I've taken them as far as I can.”
Emirates will embark on a recruitment process to fill the position of treasurer shortly.
It has to be said that there are two types of people, those who cannot stop working while their heart beats, and those that know when the time is right to stop living to work and start living. Brian will be back soon taking on new challenges but for now he will spend some well-earned time with his family.
It has to be said that the new orders that have just been announced at Emirates most likely sped this resignation. Given that Brian has now been a financier and a member of airline management there is no question that he will be a favourable asset for many in our industry.
Commenting on the resignation, Mark Lapidus at Doric Lease Corp stated to Airline Economics on Sunday: “We go back to 1997. Brian just started at HSBC and helped us fund one of Emirates’ early 777s. He probably liked what he saw and no wonder ended up joining the airline some years later and building the most award winning and the strongest treasury team that has coped impressively with amazing growth at Emirates and closed multiple firsts. Our relationship spans 16 years and about 30 large aircraft and I am sure it will continue in the future.”
For my part I say just this: The more things change, the more they stay the same – Especially in our sector. The best of luck and our thanks go out to Brian and of course Nirmal and the team at Emirates who must attempt to fill his shoes.