New Network Planning and Development Manager appointed at Gulf Air Cargo

Okpro, who has more than 20 years of strategic marketing and sales planning and operations experience, joins an already highly experienced team in Manama, Bahrain.

Formerly Director Cargo Services at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) from 2000 to 2006, Okpro will be part of a team charged with growing Gulf Air Cargo's business

"We are delighted to secure the services of Sam," says Gulf Air Head of Cargo Des Vertannes. "His extensive experience at other airlines and more recently at IATA, is sure to prove invaluable as we embark on a new era of growth at Gulf Air Cargo. This includes finalising the feasibility into owning and operating our own freighter. This will be an item high on Sam's agenda. In addition, Sam will be reviewing the Gulf Air Cargo product offering."

At IATA, Okpro was Director Cargo Services and drove and directed the development of innovative Cargo Services Policies to ensure the continued relevance of IATA to Member Airlines.

He also led the team that allowed the IATA Member Airlines to meet the requirements of the US Customs and Border Protection Agency's Advance Electronic Cargo Information and directed the development of industry-wide air cargo standards in line with the changing security requirements of various Customs Administrations around the world.

Okpro, a graduate of Concordia University, Quèbec, Canada where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce - B.Comm and later his Master of Business Administration - MBA, also played a key role in the development of a cargo paperless transportation project that will eliminate today's paper Master Air Waybill (MAWB).

Prior to IATA he worked with the national airline of Trinidad & Tobago - BWIA - from 1998 to 2000 where he was Senior Director Cargo helping to grow cargo revenues by over US$ 5 million.

Other former positions include Director Business Planning with the Canadian National Railway, while at Air Canada he held several positions including Manager Marketing Communications Programmes, Manager Cargo Marketing, Manager Sales Planning and Support, Manager DC8 Freighters and Courier Network and Manager Promotions and Merchandising - Passenger and finally Manager and Cargo Strategic Planning and Product Development.