Independent Global General
Aviation Asset Manager

Who We Are

ABL Helicopters is an independent asset manager dedicated to general aviation with a clear focus on helicopters and private aircraft. The company was created to meet growing investor demand for independent, high-performance management of non-commercial aviation assets.

Born from the global success and aviation expertise of ABL Aviation, ABL Helicopters applies a proven approach to an underserved segment, combining aviation insight with investment discipline to deliver tailored solutions across the helicopter and general aviation market.

Our Story

What began as a bold vision in 2014 to bring institutional-grade discipline to aircraft asset management, evolved into a global aviation platform with operations across six financial and aviation hubs.

After more than a decade of growth, partnerships, and consistent delivery under ABL Aviation, the launch of ABL Helicopters marked a strategic move: to apply the same trusted model to the general aviation market, with a dedicated team and a standalone mandate.

ABL Helicopters operates independently, guided by the same values of transparency, precision, and client alignment that shaped its origin through a network of offices in: New York, Dublin, Casablanca, Dubai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Manila

  • 2014

    ABL Aviation founded in New York as an independent aircraft asset manager.

  • 2016–2018

    Global expansion with offices in Dublin, Casablanca, and Hong Kong.

  • 2019

    Strategic partnership secured with a leading Japanese financial institution.

  • 2020–2021

    Completed 25+ transactions with top-tier airlines, building market resilience.

  • 2022

    Opened Tokyo office and strengthened investor base in Asia.

  • 2023

    Surpassed $5B in transactions and delivered 60+ aircraft to key airline partners.

  • 2024

    Opened Dubai office, and achieved $6.5B in total transaction volume.

  • 2025

    ABL Helicopters launched to focus exclusively on helicopters and general aviation assets.

Stephen Orr

Head of Africa

Stephen Orr is Head of Africa at ABL Helicopters, leading strategy and partner development across the region from Casablanca. He brings over 35 years of experience in aerospace and aircraft manufacturing, including leadership at Bombardier and Spirit AeroSystems.
He helped establish Morocco’s leading aerostructures hub and served as President of the British Chamber of Commerce in Morocco. Stephen holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Management.

Donal O'Shea

Chief Technical Officer

Donal O’Shea is CTO at ABL Helicopters, managing the technical oversight of the firm’s global fleet. He has held key roles at Ryanair, CityJet, Santos Dumont, and Avolon, where he oversaw assets valued at over $24BN.
He has led aircraft sales, managed major reserve claims, and directed asset strategies during crisis periods. Donal holds a BEng from Kingston University, is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and a licensed pilot.

Carlos Garcia Merino

Vice President, Marketing

Carlos Garcia Merino is Vice President, Marketing at ABL Helicopters. He leads investor relations, develops investment materials, and supports market analysis for new aviation opportunities. He also represents the company at key industry events and supports engagement with global investors and partners.
Before joining ABL, Carlos worked at Lignum Capital PFP in Spain, where he executed 13 fundraising transactions for early stage companies. He also held roles at Lawell Law and Strategy and in the Corporate Strategy team at Air Liquide. Carlos holds a degree in Business Administration and Law from Carlos III University of Madrid and completed an exchange programme at ESC Rennes School of Business.

Gavin Fernandes

Financial Controller

Gavin Fernandes is Financial Controller at ABL Helicopters, based in Dublin. He oversees financial reporting, budgeting, treasury, and accounting across international operations, including the management of special purpose vehicles. He supports financial discipline and transparency while strengthening internal controls and reporting processes.
Gavin brings more than 12 years of finance experience, with a strong background in aviation and corporate governance. Before joining ABL, he worked in Audit and Risk Advisory roles and served as Audit Manager at Avolon, where he led internal audits and SOX compliance initiatives. He also led Finance and Business Audit activities at Primark. Gavin holds professional experience across financial control, risk management, and operational finance.

Umid Sharipov

Head of Japan

Umid Sharipov is Head of Japan at ABL Helicopters, managing relationships with local airlines, lessors, and investors. He brings over a decade of experience in aviation finance, with deep knowledge of Japan’s leasing market.
He previously held senior roles at BNP Paribas in Tokyo and Paris, executing JOLCOs and cross-border aircraft finance deals. Umid holds a Business Administration degree from Yokohama National University.

Joey Zhao

Head of APAC (ex-Japan)

Joey Zhao leads ABL Helicopters’ strategy across Asia-Pacific (ex-Japan) from Hong Kong, focusing on commercial growth and investor relations. He previously managed a $5BN fleet at Bocomm Aviation Leasing and executed major SLB transactions.
His experience spans Asia, EMEA, and the Americas. Joey holds a Master’s from Columbia University and serves on ISTAT Asia and China Committees.
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Ali Ben Lmadani is the Founder and CEO of ABL Helicopters, with the vision to build an independent global platform for general aviation asset management.