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Leadership Team

HeliOps Board

Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey KCB CBE

Chairman

Sir Alan has a strong background in maritime operations, maritime aviation, search and rescue, risk management, and safety regulation. In a 33-year career in the UK Royal Navy he commanded two aircraft carriers in combat operations and served for 5 years on the Navy and Admiralty Boards. His final RN appointment was as Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command. Sir Alan then spent 8 years as Chief Executive officer of the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency, where he modernised the UK's Coastguard service, introduced a new fleet of 22 SAR helicopters and overhauled the MCA's regulatory regime. He holds a number of non-executive leadership and consultancy positions, along with several charitable trusteeships.

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Steve Gladston

Chief Executive Officer

Steve studied Electronic & Electrical Engineering at the University of Bath before joining the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot specialising in Anti-Submarine and Search and Rescue roles. Upon leaving the Royal Navy Steve gained significant experience flying in support of Oil and Gas and civilian SAR operations over the North Sea and Irish Sea, operating the S61 and S92 helicopters. Steve founded Developing Assets (UK) Ltd, HeliOperations' parent company, in 2007.

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Dan Roberts

General Counsel

Dan graduated from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and qualified as an English lawyer with Allen & Overy LLP, specialising in aviation finance. He has subsequently worked in-house for international aircraft leasing companies as general counsel and chief operating officer. He also provides support to a major European airline and various investment funds on their aviation transactions. Dan provides advice to HeliOperations on insurance, commercial and contractual matters.

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Jock Alexander OBE

Non-Executive Director

Jock spent over 38 years in the Royal Navy, the majority of which was as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm. He has wide experience in the military having held five command posts, including ship, squadron and air station, whilst also having served in several Headquarters, including the Ministry of Defence as the First Sea Lord's aviation advisor. His aviation credentials come from the delivery and oversight of flight from operational, safety and regulatory positions, under-pinned with a deep knowledge of risk management and programme delivery. Jock has an MA from King's College London, is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers and a Freeman of the City of London. He is currently the Chief Executive of the Fly Navy Heritage Trust and, as Managing Director of Naval Aviation Limited, is a CAA Accountable Manager. Jock joined the Board of HeliOperations as a Non-Executive Director in May 2018.

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Neal Dennis

Finance Director

Neal is a Chartered Accountant with over 30-years experience working in the profession supporting businesses in a variety of sectors; he has been an external advisor to HeliOperations for over 10-years. Neal is a member of the Boards of Directors of a range of high-growth companies and as HeliOperations' Finance Director he provides strategic financial and business advice. Neal also undertakes Expert Witness assignments on company valuations and taxation matters.

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Mark Deaney

Chief Operating Officer

Mark joined HeliOperations following a 37-year career as a Royal Navy Aircraft Engineer and a period as an independent consultant specialising in Airworthiness and Regulatory Compliance. A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, he has wide-experience in both fixed and rotary wing operations in a range of roles, including as senior engineer on various Fleet Air Arm squadrons, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton and more latterly within the Military Aviation Authority where he was responsible for the implementation of Certification Regulation for military aircraft. Based at HeliOperations' Portland site, Mark is the lead for all HeliOps' day-to-day operational and engineering activities.

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HeliOps Management

Paul Bell

Business Development Manager

Paul studied Engineering at Trinity College Dublin and worked in South Africa for 25 years in the heavy-engineering sector covering power generation, mining, oil refineries and offshore projects. He served as a director of a number of South African companies including Murray & Roberts Engineering, Genrec Engineering and Gray Security Services. He is now based in the United Kingdom and where he is involved in risk-management, education and training in Africa; and various other engineering projects.

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Dan Howard OBE

Business Development Director

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists and Masters graduate from both Portsmouth Business School and Westminster University, Dan joined the HeliOperations' Board as Business Development Director in May 2020. Dan enjoyed a 38-year career in the Royal Navy, 15-years of which were spent abroad in a wide-range of defence appointments, including with the German, Iraq and Pakistan Ministries of Defence. Dan's final military appointment was spent in Berlin as the Deputy Defence Attaché to Germany. Since leaving the Royal Navy, Dan has developed an independent consultancy serving the aviation and security sectors, he serves as a Member of Council for the Chartered Institute of Linguists and brings a wealth of operational, diplomatic and commercial experience to the HeliOperations' Board.

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