ADB Safegate announces appointment of COO and EVP Airfield
ADB Safegate has announced the appointment of Joe Pokoj to Chief Operating Officer of its global organisation and Executive Vice President of its airfield business line.
Image courtesy ADB Safegate
Joe will also retain his current role as CEO Americas, a position he has held since 2013. He has over 30 years’ experience with the company and is an airfield lighting industry veteran.
Joe’s career with then ADB, started in 1987 as Electrical Engineer, quickly moving to Project Engineering Manager where he was responsible for project management of airfield lighting control systems for the North American market. In 1999, he became the Director of Sales and Marketing, having responsibility for airfield lighting sales in North America and international US military as well as business development, marketing and technical services. In 2010 he added responsibility for Latin America, and in 2013, became President & CEO Americas. He is a result-oriented, leader in sales and aftermarket experience, engineering and operations.
“Joe brings a vast experience and knowledge of ADB Safegate’s customers’ requirements to his new role and is greatly respected by customers and colleagues alike,” stated Laurent Dubois, CEO of ADB Safegate. “This makes him uniquely qualified to steer our organisation as we, and our industry, move forward out of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as longer term with our strategic transformation journey.”
As COO, Joe will oversee the company’s operations across manufacturing, supply chain and quality assurance, where he is focused on overall performance, strengthening supplier relationships and driving customer satisfaction. He will transform the company’s three manufacturing facilities and teams – in Zaventem, Belgium; Columbus, Ohio, USA and Tianjin, China – to form one global operational engine working together to ensure quality products and timely delivery. Manufacturing capabilities in China and the US are being expanded and the company will deploy a common product line across its three facilities.
In his role as Executive Vice President, Airfield, Pokoj is focused on maintaining the company’s leadership position in airfield solutions and guiding the growth strategy. The company is investing heavily in R&D and talent to introduce next generation solutions and innovative service offerings to solve customer challenges and help grow the aviation industry.
“I’m proud of how our industry has stepped up to the challenges thrown its way over the last year and a half, and we are committed to supporting our customers in solving those challenges,” said Pokoj. “ADB Safegate is at an exciting phase of change and innovation that will deliver unmatched experiences to our customers with new products and services that will help our industry emerge leaner, greener and more efficient in our ever-changing world.”
Joe has an Electrical Engineering Degree from DeVry Institute of Technology and an MBA from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio.
ADB SAFEGATE provides integrated solutions to raise efficiency, improve safety, boost environmental sustainability and reduce operational costs for airports, airlines and ANSPs. The company works with airports and airlines to solve operational bottlenecks.Its solutions encompass airfield lighting, power and control systems, smart airport and tower software solutions, intelligent docking automation and aftermarket services.
With more than 1,200 employees, ADB SAFEGATE serves more than 2,500 airports in more than 175 countries, from the busiest and largest like Atlanta, Beijing, Dubai, Heathrow, Charles De Gaulle, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Doha, New Delhi and Changi to fast-growing airports across Asia and Africa.