Youri Busaan (YB) was appointed Director Cargo and Asset Management Global Operations at Groupe ADP in DEC23. An established aviation and air cargo veteran, he oversees the group’s cargo assets at over 25 gateways all over the world, he told CargoForwarder Global (CFG).
Mr Busaan, who holds Dutch nationality but considers himself European, can boast over 30 years of experience in the industry. His starting position as an air cargo broker in Belgium, soon took him to Rwanda. Sub-Saharan Africa, where he also worked on a humanitarian mission in Djibouti and Somalia, has been a recurring location in his career ever since.
Back in Europe in 1994, he joined KLM Cargo Belgium as Commercial Manager and later became CEO of Paris-Vatry Airport. For airport operator Egis, he also served as CEO of AERCO – Airports of Congo, managing the airports of Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire & Ollombo. In 2021, he joined Group ADP as CEO of Cotonou Airport in Benin.
CFG: You have been at Groupe ADP for 2 years and 6 months, first as project director cargo for the entire group (so not exclusively for Paris CDG)?
YB: Yes, I have had the pleasure of working for Groupe ADP for the last 2.5 years. Until March of last year, I was the CEO of Cotonou Airport, Benin, for which the group was executing a TSA (transitional service agreement) contract.
Groupe ADP is a global, integrated, and multilocal group, present in all aspects of the airport value chain, which manages and operates more than 25 airports on all continents – either directly or via TAV Airports and GMR Airports. [Groupe ADP has a 46.12% share in TAV, Türkiye’s largest airport operator, and owns 49% of Indian GMR. ms]
CFG: What do your new responsibilities involve?
YB: Since April 2023, I have integrated our Global Operations Division with a mandate to assist our different airport assets worldwide with cargo expertise and to start working on developing best practices and insights.
I’m equally responsible for coordinating the industrial partnerships between Groupe ADP, GMR Airports, and TAV Airports. These cover a broad set of projects aimed at leveraging our expertise and skills to welcome passengers and continuously enhance our operations.
CFG: Are there any specific projects you will be working on – also for the Paris Olympics?
YB: I am assisting and working together with a broad scope of extremely motivated professionals at Groupe ADP and in our various international assets. We want to improve the cargo experience using digitalization as a key driver, build future cargo concepts and develop a common vision.
Of equal importance for this year, is that quite a few employees within Groupe ADP and I will contribute to guaranteeing the best welcome ever during the upcoming Olympic and Para-Olympic games here in Paris! Groupe ADP is an official sponsor of the Paris Games and the primary gateway to this prestigious event!