Jetrader - Spring 2018 - 53

in memoriam

Philip Lobkowicz

Gunnar Björg

Brian Tumulty

ISTAT is greatly saddened by the unexpected death
of Philip Lobkowicz from a heart attack at the age
of 56 on 25 December 2017. Philip will always be
remembered as a just and honorable man, devoted
to his loving family, and for being a caring and loyal
friend. His brilliant, analytic mind, intellectual
curiosity, enthusiasm for life, and fun-loving spirit,
charm and quick wit set him apart from the rest.
Philip played a pivotal role in the evolution of the
aircraft operating lease industry. He launched his
career in the 1980s at Citicorp with advisory mandates for many of the world's leading airlines and
investors, cultivating investor demand worldwide
for this growing asset class, particularly in Japan,
Europe and the U.S. In 1989, he led the group that
departed Citicorp to build up Babcock & Brown's
aircraft operating lease advisory franchise. He was

especially instrumental in the development of the
widebody trading market starting with advisory
mandates on Singapore Airlines' 747-400 and SAS'
767 fleets, among others. Philip was a partner of
Babcock & Brown and subsequently a partner of
BBAM, formed by a management buyout of the
Babcock & Brown aircraft group in 2010. He was an
active member of ISTAT for more than 25 years, and
Philip will be sorely missed by hundreds of ISTAT
members who have worked with and developed a
personal friendship with him during his career.
Special thanks to ISTAT members Steve Zissis
(BBAM US LP), Barbara Detrich (BBAM US LP),
Steve Rimmer (Altavair, Ltd.), Michael Platt (Lease
Corporation International, Ltd.), and John Vitale
(AVITAS, Inc.) for their help in assembling this
memoriam.

ISTAT is deeply saddened at the news that Gunnar
M. Björg passed away on Saturday, 27 January 2018.
Gunnar began his career in aviation as a flight
engineer and was instrumental in the founding and
development of Cargolux. In 1981, Gunnar began
trading and leasing aircraft, and was a very active
aircraft trader during the 1980s and 1990s. Gunnar
had very close relationships with many airlines
around the world, notably, Swissair, Northwest,
and Lufthansa. In addition, Gunnar also enjoyed
a very close association with PK Airfinance, who
supported Gunnar throughout his trading and
leasing career.

Gunnar was also a successful international
investor with a particular interest in early stage
technology and medical device companies. Along
with other investors, Gunnar founded Second Sign
Medical Products in 1998 to provide medical devices
helping blind people achieve greater independence.
The company went public in 2014.
Gunnar resided in Liechtenstein and is survived
by his wife, Evelynne, his two sons, Marc and Steve,
and four grandchildren.
Special thanks to ISTAT members Jep Thornton
(Aerolease Aviation LLC), and John Vitale (AVITAS,
Inc.) for their help in assembling this memoriam.

The world of aviation finance was shocked and
saddened by the sudden passing of Brian Tumulty
on 19 October 2017. Brian dedicated over 35 years
of his professional life to aviation and was highly
regarded for the in-depth knowledge, passion and
enthusiasm he brought to each of his roles.
Brian's career began with the Irish Air Corps
before moving on to engineering roles with various airlines. He moved into the leasing industry,
joining Pembroke Capital Limited over 20 years
ago where he was an executive director, leading the technical team through the growth of
the company and its subsequent acquisition by
Standard Chartered Bank. Shortly before his death,

Brian took up the role of chief technical officer
with Accipiter.
Brian will be remembered as a man of integrity
with exceptional ability. He had a generous nature
and a vast knowledge of an eclectic range of subjects,
which he was more than willing to share with his
colleagues and peers and those of us lucky enough
to engage in debate with him. Brian was a devoted
family man, husband to Bernadette and father to Peter
and Amelia. He took great pride in the fact that his
children inherited the same passion for knowledge as
himself. His early passing is an enormous loss to not
only his family but his many friends and colleagues.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

Jetrader * Spring 2018 53

Jetrader - Spring 2018

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