Skilton named as VP Components at APOC Aviation

Aircraft, engines and landing gears trading, leasing, and part-out company, APOC Aviation, has named Craig Skilton as head of its fast-growing components division.

In his new role, Skilton is tasked with driving market share growth across the company’s expanding portfolio.

While his responsibilities span global operations, Skilton will focus primarily on Europe and the Asia-Pacific region – two strategic markets for APOC.

A key part of his mission includes strengthening the company’s presence in the UK.

Skilton will also collaborate closely with APOC’s emerging repairs business, supporting the company’s shift from fast-turn sales of repairable and serviceable inventory to a model centred on higher-value components available for exchange and lease.

Gavin Simmonds, chief executive of APOC Aviation, said: “The new role of vice president components is of strategic importance as we broaden APOC’s global footprint and deploy secured capital.

“Craig is a highly respected member of the aviation community with a reputation for team motivation and commercial success, coupled with extensive technology capabilities.”

Skilton brings a wealth of experience in the aviation sector. Before joining APOC Aviation, he spent 10 years in leadership roles at AJW Group, where he was instrumental in driving strategic growth as head of business development. He later shifted focus to lead the company’s digital transformation, including the launch of AJW’s eCommerce platform, Eventory.

Following his time at AJW, Skilton founded Digital Flight, a rapidly growing aviation technology hub, and supported SkySelect Inc. – a Silicon Valley-based AI-powered procurement platform for aircraft spares – before returning to the parts trading space in his current role at APOC Aviation.

Skilton said: “APOC’s dynamic and entrepreneurial approach towards doing business is refreshing. APOC has some incredible foundations which I’m excited to build upon: a recognisable and respected brand, great people, a significant financing facility – and an exponentially expanding inventory of the right products.

“My immediate objective is to source new assets whilst mentoring, shaping, and growing a high-performing sales team who, when armed with the right inventory, can be market leading. Key hires that have excellent industry knowledge are already in progress.”

Skilton added: “Our mission within the airframe division is to become the ‘intuitive partner of choice’ for the A320 & B737 family of airframes and components. We’re aiming to do this by focusing on the fundamentals and being the best at what we do.”

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