Boeing has announced the appointment of Swati Rangachari as its director of corporate communications for India. Rangachari, who is based in Boeing's India headquarters in New Delhi, will develop the company's communications strategies for India, focused on the expansion of its presence in the country and engagement with key stakeholders there.

"India is a crucial market for us and communications play a critical role in building our relationships," said Dr IanThomas, president of Boeing India."Swati has a strong background in leading strategic communications programs that support business growth. We are excited to have her onboard."

Rangachari joins Boeing fromTexas Instruments India, where she managed communication programmestargeted at expanded market growth and corporate leadership. Prior to that she led communications efforts for technology product companies including Aditi and Talisma.

Jean Claude Pingat, Executive vice president of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc has announced the appointment of Youssef Sabeh as vice-president operations for airports of SNC-Lavalin in Europe.

Youssef Sabeh is a graduate of HEC Montréal (MBA) and the University of Sher brooke in Canada (Ph.D. in Civil Engineering). Sabeh comes to post with10 years of experience with Aéroports de Montréal, and, more recently in France,with SEVE (Société d'Exploitation Vatry Europort), where he has worked since 2000. He will continue to manage this firm as CEO.

In his new role within SNC-Lavalinin Europe, Youssef Sabeh will beresponsible for proposals related to airport developments, particularly in terms ofmanagement, operations, maintenance and marketing of SNC-Lavalin Airports within the continent.

Global aviation services group,Swissport International has appointed former senior vice president cargo for Doha-based Qatar Airways, John Batten,as its new executive vice president cargo.

Batten assumed his duties, in which he will also serve on group executive management board, on 1 August.

Prior to Qatar Airways, Batten spent25 years with TNT Express Worldwide in a career that saw him occupy various executive positions at headquarters and around the world.

In addition to his management skills and his logistics expertise, Batten has earned a strong reputation for his hands on approach and his wide practical experience in day-to-day airfreight operations.

Speaking of the appointment, Per Utnegaard, president and CEO of Swissport International said: "Having worked with John in the past, I am absolutely delighted to have him on board since he brings avast of experience and professionalism to our group."

Asia-based aircraft leasing organisation, BOC Aviation, has appointed Peter Davisas head of corporate finance responsible for the company's global treasury, funding, hedging, cash flow planning and cash management activities. In this newly created role aimed at positioning the company for a growth in fleet size, Davis will manage the treasury and portfolio management teams and report to Phang Thim Fatt, deputy managing director and CFO.

Davis brings 18 years of experience in the aviation business to BOC Aviation.In his most recent position as managing director for transport and logistics inSingapore-based DBS Bank Ltd, Davisled a team that originated and structured aviation finance transactions involving loan syndications, debt capital markets,equity capital markets and global treasury activities. In addition, he has also held senior positions in other banks including ING Bank and Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan.

BOC Aviation has strengthened its Structured Finance team with the appointment of Peter Negline as senior VP responsible for research and new product development with a particular focus on equity and capital markets. In this position, he will help the company to grow its range of investment products to meet airline and investor needs against different market conditions. Negline is based in Singapore and reports to Steven Townend, chief commercial officer.

Negline has over 20 years of research and sales experience with investment houses in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. Early in his career he worked with Baring Securities and State Street Global before building a reputation at Salomon Smith Barney and there after at JPMorgan Securities where he was most recently an executive director and head of regional transportation research. Prior to joining BOC Aviation, Negline was the chief financial officer of a low cost carrier Tiger Airways.

Dieter Oppel has been appointed as the new managing director of the International Cargo Centre Shenzhen (ICCS) effective from 16 July, replacing Frank Braeuer who has been nominated as vice chairman of the supervisory boardof ICCS. Dieter Oppel joined in ICCS on 1 September 2004 as senior managerin charge of operations and business development. The ICCS said it expects to continue achieving a rapid tonnage growth under his experience and lead and the cargo centre added that "with a strong focus on customer orientation and segmented regional market, ICCS continues business expansion in the future."