Embraer Commercial Aviation, a division of Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, has announced the formation of a new dedicated global aircraft leasing and freighter team as the company attempts to strengthen its strategic position in the cargo and aircraft leasing markets.
The new team, to be based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, will be formed of individuals that already have expertise in the leasing of Embraer aircraft plus those who specialize in the planemaker’s range of E-Jet passenger-to-freighter conversions (P2F). The announcement marks the first time that such skills have been under a single unified structure at the company.
Embraer’s Oliver Gerg will lead the team and has been appointed Senior Vice President (SVP) of Global Leasing and Freighter. According to a company statement, Gerg brings “a wealth of experience to this position through his leadership of the Global Leasing team and having played a pivotal role in the launch of the E-Freighter in 2022.” The role reports directly to Martyn Holmes, Chief Commercial Officer at Embraer Commercial Aviation.
“The creation of the Global Leasing and Freighter team is a critical step in our strategy to capitalize on opportunities in the growing cargo and leasing markets,” said Holmes. “Oliver’s leadership, industry expertise, and deep understanding of our business make him the ideal person to lead this initiative. We are confident that, under his guidance, this team will deliver exceptional value to our customers and stakeholders.”
“This strategic realignment underscores Embraer’s commitment to innovation and customer focus, positioning the company to meet the evolving needs of the global aviation market,” a company statement added.
In February 2025, Embraer’s E-freighter, based on the popular E190 regional jet, received its European Authority for Aviation Safety (EASA) certification just four months after the type received full certification from the Federal Aviation Administration in the US, followed by the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC). The EASA certification paved the way for the E-Freighter to begin global operations as a short-to-medium haul dedicated air cargo carrier.
The E190F program began in May 2022 to fill a gap in the air cargo market and to replace older, less efficient models. Embraer is pitching the E190F as a replacement for smaller, slower, and shorter-range turboprops. The aircraft is a passenger-to-freighter conversion, using the manufacturer’s E190 passenger aircraft as a platform that can be converted into a dedicated cargo-only aircraft.
Later that same month, Embraer said it would ramp up jet delivery efforts in 2025 after announcing it is targeting up to 280 deliveries in 2024. On February 28, 2025, the company laid bare its financial results for 2024, indicating record revenues of $6.39 billion – a 21% increase from 2023 figures. In 2025, Embraer said it hopes revenues will grow to somewhere between $7 billion to $7.5 billion.
Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft. On average, about every 10 seconds, an aircraft manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 145 million passengers a year.
