Board of Directors

Mr. Lawrence has been a Director of AerCap since May 5, 2017. He is currently Chairman of Lake Harriet Capital, a private investment firm. Previously, Mr. Lawrence served as Chairman of Rothschild North America and earlier as Chief Executive Officer of Rothschild North America and as co-head of global investment banking at Rothschild from 2010 to 2015. Prior to Rothschild, Mr. Lawrence was Chief Financial Officer of Unilever and he served as Executive Director on the boards of Unilever NV and Unilever PLC. He joined Unilever in 2007 after serving as the Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of General Mills for nine years. Prior to General Mills, Mr. Lawrence was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Northwest Airlines from 1996 to 1998, and before that Mr. Lawrence was a division President at PepsiCo, serving as CEO of Pepsi-Cola Asia, Middle East, Africa from 1992 to 1996. In 1983, he cofounded The LEK Partnership, a corporate strategy and merger/acquisition firm, headquartered in London. Before that he was a Partner of Bain and Company having opened their London and Munich offices. Prior to that, he worked for The Boston Consulting Group. Mr. Lawrence is currently a Non-Executive Director of Avnet Inc. and Smurfit Kappa Group. His aviation industry experience dates from 1990, and it includes, in addition to being the Chief Financial Officer of Northwest Airlines, serving on the boards of IAG (International Consolidated Airlines Group), Continental Airlines, TWA, Mesaba and British Airways. Since 1990, Mr. Lawrence has served on 16 public company boards, several private company boards and numerous non-profit boards. Mr. Lawrence earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Yale University and an M.B.A. with distinction from Harvard Business School.

Mr. Branch has been a Director of AerCap since April 25, 2018. Mr. Branch most recently served Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd (Deloitte’s global organization) as Senior Advisor in the Office of the CEO and served the Boards of Deloitte Northwest Europe LP and of Deloitte’s Middle East practice. Mr. Branch’s professional career has spanned 40 years; he first qualified as a Certified Public Accountant in June 1979, and was a general partner of Deloitte entities in the U.S. including Deloitte & Touche LLP (accounting and auditing) and Deloitte Consulting LLP (consulting) for 29 years. His industry focus has been the air transportation industry; large global air carriers. Mr. Branch held a variety of global leadership roles with Deloitte, having lived and practiced outside of the U.S. for over a decade. Mr. Branch has vigorously supported the community through not-for-profit Board service, such as the Advisory Board of Emory University School of Ethics and the Duke University Heart Center. He received a BA and MBA from the University of North Carolina.

Mr. Gradon has been a Director of AerCap since May 27, 2010. He is also currently a Non-Executive Director of Exclusive Hotels. He was a Non-Executive Director of Genesis from November 2007 until the date of its amalgamation with AerCap International Bermuda Limited in March 2010. He practiced law at Slaughter & May before joining the UK FTSE 100 company The Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) where he was a main Board Director from 1998 until its takeover in 2006. His roles at P&O included the group commercial & legal director function and he served as Chairman of P&O's property division. Mr. Gradon served on the board of The Wimbledon Tennis Championships from 2005 to 2019 and on the board of Grosvenor Limited from 2007 to 2015. In addition, Mr. Gradon served as Chairman of La Manga Club, Spain, and Chief Executive Officer of the London Gateway projects. Mr. Gradon holds an M.A. degree in law from Cambridge University.

Mr. Walsh has been a Director of AerCap since May 5, 2017. He is also a non-executive director of Uisce Eireann, the Irish government owned national water utility, and of Limerick Civic Trust, a charitable organization. He previously served as a Non-Executive Director, including Chairman, of a number of companies which finance and lease aircraft and trains throughout the world. Mr. Walsh has over 30 years’ experience as a Non-Executive Director, senior executive and commercial lawyer in the aircraft leasing and financing industry. In 1989, he joined GPA Group plc, the aircraft leasing and financing company, and held a number of senior management positions, including General Counsel. Following the acquisition of GPA by debis AirFinance in 2000, Mr. Walsh was appointed General Counsel of debis AirFinance and held that position until 2002. From 2003 to 2005, he served as Chief Legal Officer of Bord Gais Eireann, the Irish gas utility. From 1986 to 1989, he was a diplomat in the Irish Diplomatic Service. Mr. Walsh is a barrister and a law graduate of University College Cork, Ireland.

Mr. Kelly was appointed Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of AerCap on May 18, 2011. Previously he served as Chief Executive Officer of AerCap’s U.S. operations from January 2008 to May 2011. Mr. Kelly served as AerCap's Group Treasurer from 2005 through December 31, 2007. He started his career in the aviation leasing and financing business with Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA) in 1998 and continued working with its successors AerFi in Ireland and debis AirFinance and AerCap in Amsterdam. Prior to joining GPA in 1998, he spent three years with KPMG in Dublin. Mr. Kelly is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a Master’s degree in Accounting from University College, Dublin.

Mr. Anderson was appointed Chief Commercial Officer in March 2021, overseeing AerCap's worldwide leasing business, including marketing, pricing and commercial execution. During his career at AerCap, Mr. Anderson has served as Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa and as Head of Asia Pacific and China, managing AerCap’s leasing activities and teams in those regions. From 2011, Mr. Anderson worked in the leasing team at ILFC, establishing and leading the Singapore office until AerCap’s acquisition of ILFC in 2014. Mr. Anderson has also held positions at Hong Kong Aviation Capital and at Allco Finance Group in both Sydney and London, specializing in aircraft leasing and structured finance. Mr. Anderson earned his Master of Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia, and his B.A. from the University of Technology Sydney.

Mr. Juhas was appointed Chief Financial Officer of AerCap in April 2017, following his appointment as Deputy Chief Financial Officer in September 2015. Prior to joining AerCap, Mr. Juhas was Global Head of Strategic Planning at AIG, where he led the development of the company’s strategic and capital plans, as well as mergers, acquisitions and other transactions, including the sale of ILFC to AerCap. Prior to joining AIG in 2011, Mr. Juhas was a Managing Director in the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley from 2000 to 2011. While at Morgan Stanley, he led the IPO of AerCap in 2006 and was the lead advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank and the U.S. Treasury on the AIG restructuring and the placement of the U.S. government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship in 2008. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Mr. Juhas was an attorney in the Mergers and Acquisitions group at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, the New York law firm. Mr. Juhas received his A.B. from Harvard College and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Mr. Juhas was appointed Chief Financial Officer of AerCap in April 2017, following his appointment as Deputy Chief Financial Officer in September 2015. Prior to joining AerCap, Mr. Juhas was Global Head of Strategic Planning at AIG, where he led the development of the company’s strategic and capital plans, as well as mergers, acquisitions and other transactions, including the sale of ILFC to AerCap. Prior to joining AIG in 2011, Mr. Juhas was a Managing Director in the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley from 2000 to 2011. While at Morgan Stanley, he led the IPO of AerCap in 2006 and was the lead advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank and the U.S. Treasury on the AIG restructuring and the placement of the U.S. government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship in 2008. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Mr. Juhas was an attorney in the Mergers and Acquisitions group at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, the New York law firm. Mr. Juhas received his A.B. from Harvard College and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Ms. Forst has been a Director of AerCap since April 24, 2019. She is also currently an independent business consultant in powertrain and vehicle technology, and serves as a member of the supervisory board of Norma Group SE. Ms. Forst is currently a Non-Executive Director of Westport Fuel Systems Inc. in Vancouver, Canada and of Johnson Matthey Plc in London, UK. In addition, Ms. Forst holds an advisory board position at iwis SE & Co. KG in Germany. Ms. Forst spent more than 35 years at the Opel European division of General Motors in senior engineering and management positions, and as a member of Opel’s management board. As such, Ms. Forst has been responsible for the development of new generations of engines and car models for Opel and General Motors. Ms. Forst holds Bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the Kettering University (U.S.) and the Darmstadt University of Applied Technology (Germany).

Mr. Kelly was appointed Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of AerCap on May 18, 2011. Previously he served as Chief Executive Officer of AerCap’s U.S. operations from January 2008 to May 2011. Mr. Kelly served as AerCap's Group Treasurer from 2005 through December 31, 2007. He started his career in the aviation leasing and financing business with Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA) in 1998 and continued working with its successors AerFi in Ireland and debis AirFinance and AerCap in Amsterdam. Prior to joining GPA in 1998, he spent three years with KPMG in Dublin. Mr. Kelly is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a Master’s degree in Accounting from University College, Dublin.

Mr. Ligthart joined the AerCap Trading team in 2007. He was appointed to the position of Head of Trading and Portfolio Management in September 2018 and as Chief Investment Officer in March 2022. Mr. Ligthart has 15 years' experience in aircraft trading and portfolio management in both wide and narrow body aircraft. Prior to joining AerCap he worked at Deloitte and Touche in Amsterdam where he served as Manager Transactions Services. Mr. Ligthart received his B.A in Commercial Economics from Inholland University, and his MSc in Finance Management from Nyenrode Business University.

Mr. Warden has been a director of AerCap since July 26, 2006.  Mr. Warden is currently a Managing Director at Fortress Investment Group.  Prior to joining Fortress in August 2023, Mr. Warden was Global Head of Private Equity at Cerberus Capital Management, where he worked for a total of 15-years (2002-2012, 2018-2023).  Mr. Warden has worked in the private equity industry for 28-years, including Pamplona Capital Management, JH Whitney, Cornerstone Equity Investors, and Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette.  Mr. Warden received his AB from Brown University. 

Mr. Juhas was appointed Chief Financial Officer of AerCap in April 2017, following his appointment as Deputy Chief Financial Officer in September 2015. Prior to joining AerCap, Mr. Juhas was Global Head of Strategic Planning at AIG, where he led the development of the company’s strategic and capital plans, as well as mergers, acquisitions and other transactions, including the sale of ILFC to AerCap. Prior to joining AIG in 2011, Mr. Juhas was a Managing Director in the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley from 2000 to 2011. While at Morgan Stanley, he led the IPO of AerCap in 2006 and was the lead advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank and the U.S. Treasury on the AIG restructuring and the placement of the U.S. government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship in 2008. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Mr. Juhas was an attorney in the Mergers and Acquisitions group at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, the New York law firm. Mr. Juhas received his A.B. from Harvard College and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Mr. Canniffe was appointed Group Treasurer of AerCap in January 2018, previously serving as Head of Investor Relations since joining the company in October 2016. He has over 20 years' experience in banking, lending and the capital markets. Prior to joining AerCap, Mr. Canniffe served as Managing Director and Head of Global Markets Financing for Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong and Tokyo, where he led a division that was responsible for providing secured financing, trading, clearing, reporting and various treasury functions in the Asia Pacific region. In addition, he held roles within the financing divisions at Nomura Securities and Bankers Trust International.

Mr. Dacier has been a Director of AerCap since May 27, 2010. He is also currently a partner with Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP and he is on the Board of Directors of Progress Software Inc. (a software application development company). Until 2016, Mr. Dacier was Executive Vice President and General Counsel of EMC Corporation (an information infrastructure technology and solutions company), where he worked in various positions from 1990. Following this, he was, until December 2023, the general counsel at Indigo Agriculture, a privately held start-up company, He was a Non-Executive Director of GTY Technology Holdings Inc. from October 2016 until November 2019 and a Non-Executive Director of Genesis from November 2007 until the date of its amalgamation with AerCap International Bermuda Limited in March 2010. Prior to joining EMC, Mr. Dacier was an attorney with Apollo Computer Inc. (a computer work station company) from 1984 to 1990. Mr. Dacier received a B.A. in history and a J.D. in 1983 from Marquette University. He is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the state of Wisconsin.

Mr. Kelly was appointed Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of AerCap on May 18, 2011. Previously he served as Chief Executive Officer of AerCap’s U.S. operations from January 2008 to May 2011. Mr. Kelly served as AerCap's Group Treasurer from 2005 through December 31, 2007. He started his career in the aviation leasing and financing business with Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA) in 1998 and continued working with its successors AerFi in Ireland and debis AirFinance and AerCap in Amsterdam. Prior to joining GPA in 1998, he spent three years with KPMG in Dublin. Mr. Kelly is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a Master’s degree in Accounting from University College, Dublin.

Mr. Warden has been a director of AerCap since July 26, 2006.  Mr. Warden is currently a Managing Director at Fortress Investment Group.  Prior to joining Fortress in August 2023, Mr. Warden was Global Head of Private Equity at Cerberus Capital Management, where he worked for a total of 15-years (2002-2012, 2018-2023).  Mr. Warden has worked in the private equity industry for 28-years, including Pamplona Capital Management, JH Whitney, Cornerstone Equity Investors, and Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette.  Mr. Warden received his AB from Brown University. 

Mr. Dacier has been a Director of AerCap since May 27, 2010. He is also currently a partner with Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP and he is on the Board of Directors of Progress Software Inc. (a software application development company). Until 2016, Mr. Dacier was Executive Vice President and General Counsel of EMC Corporation (an information infrastructure technology and solutions company), where he worked in various positions from 1990. Following this, he was, until December 2023, the general counsel at Indigo Agriculture, a privately held start-up company, He was a Non-Executive Director of GTY Technology Holdings Inc. from October 2016 until November 2019 and a Non-Executive Director of Genesis from November 2007 until the date of its amalgamation with AerCap International Bermuda Limited in March 2010. Prior to joining EMC, Mr. Dacier was an attorney with Apollo Computer Inc. (a computer work station company) from 1984 to 1990. Mr. Dacier received a B.A. in history and a J.D. in 1983 from Marquette University. He is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the state of Wisconsin.

Ms. Cartwright has been a Director of AerCap since April 24, 2019. She is also currently a Non-Executive Director of Savills PLC, Genpact, Gymshark and Majid al Futtaim Entertainment. She also Chairs the Advisory Committee of Majid al Futtaim Lifestyle. Ms. Cartwright previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Harvey Nichols Group from 2014 to 2017 (and as Deputy Chairman in 2018), Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Burberry Group from 2004 to 2013, and Chief Financial Officer of Egg PLC from 1999 to 2003, having spent her early career with Granada Group. Ms. Cartwright was also a Non-Executive Director of GlaxoSmithKline PLC and a Senior Independent Director of the Football Association Ltd. Ms. Cartwright is a qualified chartered accountant and she received a BSc from the London School of Economics.

Ms. VanBelle has been a Director of AerCap since November 1, 2021. She is currently Senior Vice & Treasurer of GE and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GE Capital. She also leads GE’s Separation Management Office which is working to create three industry-leading, global public companies. Ms. VanBelle was named CEO of GE Capital in January 2021, expanding her role as GE Treasurer which she assumed in 2018. Prior to her current roles, she held several leadership roles within GE across capital markets, risk management, treasury, and finance, including GE Capital Markets Leader, GE Capital - Capital Management Risk Officer, and Deputy Treasurer. Before joining GE in 1998, Ms. VanBelle spent several years at Chemical Bank and ING. Ms. VanBelle holds a B.A. degree in Economics from Bates College and an MSc in Finance from the London Business School.

Mr. Walsh has been a Director of AerCap since May 5, 2017. He is also a non-executive director of Uisce Eireann, the Irish government owned national water utility, and of Limerick Civic Trust, a charitable organization. He previously served as a Non-Executive Director, including Chairman, of a number of companies which finance and lease aircraft and trains throughout the world. Mr. Walsh has over 30 years’ experience as a Non-Executive Director, senior executive and commercial lawyer in the aircraft leasing and financing industry. In 1989, he joined GPA Group plc, the aircraft leasing and financing company, and held a number of senior management positions, including General Counsel. Following the acquisition of GPA by debis AirFinance in 2000, Mr. Walsh was appointed General Counsel of debis AirFinance and held that position until 2002. From 2003 to 2005, he served as Chief Legal Officer of Bord Gais Eireann, the Irish gas utility. From 1986 to 1989, he was a diplomat in the Irish Diplomatic Service. Mr. Walsh is a barrister and a law graduate of University College Cork, Ireland.

Mr. Warden has been a director of AerCap since July 26, 2006.  Mr. Warden is currently a Managing Director at Fortress Investment Group.  Prior to joining Fortress in August 2023, Mr. Warden was Global Head of Private Equity at Cerberus Capital Management, where he worked for a total of 15-years (2002-2012, 2018-2023).  Mr. Warden has worked in the private equity industry for 28-years, including Pamplona Capital Management, JH Whitney, Cornerstone Equity Investors, and Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette.  Mr. Warden received his AB from Brown University. 

Ms. Cartwright has been a Director of AerCap since April 24, 2019. She is also currently a Non-Executive Director of Savills PLC, Genpact, Gymshark and Majid al Futtaim Entertainment. She also Chairs the Advisory Committee of Majid al Futtaim Lifestyle. Ms. Cartwright previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Harvey Nichols Group from 2014 to 2017 (and as Deputy Chairman in 2018), Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Burberry Group from 2004 to 2013, and Chief Financial Officer of Egg PLC from 1999 to 2003, having spent her early career with Granada Group. Ms. Cartwright was also a Non-Executive Director of GlaxoSmithKline PLC and a Senior Independent Director of the Football Association Ltd. Ms. Cartwright is a qualified chartered accountant and she received a BSc from the London School of Economics.

Mr. Branch has been a Director of AerCap since April 25, 2018. Mr. Branch most recently served Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd (Deloitte’s global organization) as Senior Advisor in the Office of the CEO and served the Boards of Deloitte Northwest Europe LP and of Deloitte’s Middle East practice. Mr. Branch’s professional career has spanned 40 years; he first qualified as a Certified Public Accountant in June 1979, and was a general partner of Deloitte entities in the U.S. including Deloitte & Touche LLP (accounting and auditing) and Deloitte Consulting LLP (consulting) for 29 years. His industry focus has been the air transportation industry; large global air carriers. Mr. Branch held a variety of global leadership roles with Deloitte, having lived and practiced outside of the U.S. for over a decade. Mr. Branch has vigorously supported the community through not-for-profit Board service, such as the Advisory Board of Emory University School of Ethics and the Duke University Heart Center. He received a BA and MBA from the University of North Carolina.

Ms. Forst has been a Director of AerCap since April 24, 2019. She is also currently an independent business consultant in powertrain and vehicle technology, and serves as a member of the supervisory board of Norma Group SE. Ms. Forst is currently a Non-Executive Director of Westport Fuel Systems Inc. in Vancouver, Canada and of Johnson Matthey Plc in London, UK. In addition, Ms. Forst holds an advisory board position at iwis SE & Co. KG in Germany. Ms. Forst spent more than 35 years at the Opel European division of General Motors in senior engineering and management positions, and as a member of Opel’s management board. As such, Ms. Forst has been responsible for the development of new generations of engines and car models for Opel and General Motors. Ms. Forst holds Bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the Kettering University (U.S.) and the Darmstadt University of Applied Technology (Germany).

Mr. Juhas was appointed Chief Financial Officer of AerCap in April 2017, following his appointment as Deputy Chief Financial Officer in September 2015. Prior to joining AerCap, Mr. Juhas was Global Head of Strategic Planning at AIG, where he led the development of the company’s strategic and capital plans, as well as mergers, acquisitions and other transactions, including the sale of ILFC to AerCap. Prior to joining AIG in 2011, Mr. Juhas was a Managing Director in the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley from 2000 to 2011. While at Morgan Stanley, he led the IPO of AerCap in 2006 and was the lead advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank and the U.S. Treasury on the AIG restructuring and the placement of the U.S. government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship in 2008. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Mr. Juhas was an attorney in the Mergers and Acquisitions group at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, the New York law firm. Mr. Juhas received his A.B. from Harvard College and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Joseph McGinley was appointed Head of Investor Relations of AerCap in December 2017. In this role, he has primary responsibility for all external communication with credit and equity investors.

In addition to investor communications, Joseph has responsibility for the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, research and delivery for AerCap, and is a member of the ESG Board Committee. This involves interacting with the key ESG rating agencies as well as the sustainability and governance officers of various investment houses.

He previously served as a Senior Credit Analyst where he led the credit coverage of the aircraft leasing, airline, utility, building materials and renewables sectors. With 14 years’ experience, Joseph has extensive knowledge in financial markets and the aviation sector, with an added focus on sustainability.

Joseph holds a Bachelor of Business and Law (BBLS) degree from University College Dublin, a Diploma in Aircraft Leasing and Finance from the Law Society of Ireland, and has been a CFA^® charterholder since 2013.

Mr. Slattery assumed the role of Executive Vice President of AerCap Engines following the acquisition of GECAS by AerCap in November 2021. Mr. Slattery heads the engine asset management activity of AerCap, responsible for the spare engine leasing business and the installed engine operations. He joined GE Aviation in 2000 as an engineer working on engine overhaul economics, followed by assuming several roles in GECAS, including sales and technical leadership, and in 2018, he was appointed EVP GECAS Engines. Mr. Slattery holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Business from Cranfield University.