ADB SAFEGATE Appoints New CEO to Accelerate its Transformation Agenda for Airports

The appointment of Laurent Dubois as CEO of ADB SAFEGATE comes at a time of unprecedented challenges for all organizations connected with air travel. The likely impact of the COVID-19 pandemic makes it more important than ever for ADB SAFEGATE to move ahead with its plans to help airports deliver the best, delay-free passenger experiences. As part of a digital transformation strategy, the company’s solutions apply integration, automation and advanced analytics technologies to take advantage of the vast amounts of data available to airports in smarter ways.

Laurent Dubois

While supporting airports in their transformation path, ADB SAFEGATE will further strengthen its solid position in the field of Airfield, Gate and Tower with excellence in product innovation and adopting the highest quality standards. ADB SAFEGATE is supported by a world-class commercial team guaranteeing a strong focus on customer needs and project execution.

Laurent was previously the CEO of Zurich-based GE Healthcare Partners, where he launched and led GE Healthcare Partners globally and was a member of GE Healthcare’s Global Executive Committee. GE Healthcare Partners is GE’s business unit driving the development and commercialization of digital solutions, including performance partnerships and advanced analytics solutions. Previously he held prime positions amongst others as a Partner at McKinsey & Company. Laurent is a Belgian citizen and holds a Master in Economics and a Business Economics Degree of the Vrije Universiteit Brussels.

He is ideally placed to drive ADB SAFEGATE’s transformative agenda.

He replaces former Group CEO Christian Onselaere, who remains with the company as Chairman and board member and will support Laurent in his mission. Joe Pokoj will remain as CEO for ADB SAFEGATE Americas, reporting to Laurent.

“It’s certainly an exciting and challenging time to join the air travel industry,” says Laurent Dubois. “I want to ensure that ADB SAFEGATE is a big part of the solution when it comes to recovering from the impact of the current pandemic. By enabling improved efficiency and more accurate predictability, we can help our customers create smoother airport operations that will deliver a better passenger experience and encourage people to travel again, once it is safe to do so.”

Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.