Our Expertise

Founder Christopher Luhrs

§Aviation industry expert with an MBA from Yale University focused on Strategy and Finance.

§Experience advising aircraft lessors, banks, lenders, investors, airlines, manufacturers and service providers on a global scale.

§Professional experience leading teams with expertise in strategic planning including; financial analysis, credit analysis, cash flow modeling, corporate development, M&A advisory and management consulting roles.

Vmo Aircraft Leasing (an Ares Capital Portfolio Company) – SVP Head of Risk & Strategy

Reporting to CEO & Chairman of the Board, member of executive leadership team, that launched start-up company to serve global commercial airline clients. Responsible for monitoring risk and investment of $2B in assets. Built and led enterprise risk management policies and processes, direct the work of analysts, and oversee investment counter-party risk assessments and client risk monitoring activities. Advised on mitigation strategies to navigate desired outcomes.

GECAS - VP Head of Growth Strategy (incl Strategic Planning and Competitive Intelligence)

Reporting to the CMO at the leading aircraft lessor and financier of the GE Company, with a remit to collaborate with the GECAS Senior Leadership Team (CEO, CFO, CIO, CMO, etc.) on all ad-hoc strategic initiatives and investment valuation analyses to deliver Corporate Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Investment Analysis and Market Insight.

Managed, analyzed and reported on all industry and competitive analysis efforts facing the company. Benchmarked competitive performance of aircraft leasing companies measuring productivity and profitability ratios. Analyzed trends shaping the airline industry to identify critical obstacles to GECAS’ current go to market strategy, including identifying and researching issues facing airline customers globally.

ICF (formerly SH&E) - Principal – Transaction & Economic Advisory

Director / Principal level consultant leading teams of analysts on various aviation related management consulting projects globally in support of corporate clients’ strategic planning engagements.

Advised various types of investors through the investment evaluation process including airline restructuring, credit analysis for debt lending and cash flow modeling for structured transactions. Spearheaded transaction and economic advisory engagements as well as commercial due diligence efforts during M&A transactions. Led SH&E’s intangible asset valuation group.

Other Relevant Experience

PricewaterhouseCoopers – Senior Consultant – Management consultant focused on pension plans

Bank of New York Mellon – Business Leader – post merger integration and operational reorganization

Yale School of Management – MBA in Strategy and Finance