ISTAT Jetrader - Autumn 2021 - 15

Marie-Louise Kelly
Chief Financial Officer, ORIX Aviation
Jetrader spoke to Marie-Louise Kelly about her
career, the aircraft leasing industry, her involvement
in Aircraft Leasing Ireland and more.
Jetrader: Can you tell me a little about your background?
Marie-Louise Kelly (M-LK): I was born and raised in Dublin, the third of four
children in a very happy household. My parents have always been a great support
to me, instilling a strong work ethic and providing measured guidance on education
and career choices. I gained a well-rounded education in Mount Anville School. From
there I attended University College Dublin, where I completed a commerce degree
and a master's in business studies.
Jetrader: Where did you begin your career, and how did you get started
at ORIX Aviation?
M-LK: I come from a long line of accountants, including my father and his father,
and I was originally determined not to follow that path. My initial thoughts were
I knew I wanted to learn more about the aircraft
leasing business and ORIX; its long history in the
business, diversified business model and well-established
platform in Ireland seemed like a great opportunity.
that I would enter a career in management consulting after my post-grad, but
after (eventually) listening to the sage advice of my parents, I decided to pursue
an accounting qualification, and I joined KPMG. I'm delighted that is the route I
took, as the professional and on-the-job training were instrumental in my early
career development.
While I was certainly familiar with aircraft leasing on a personal level when I
began my career in KPMG, it was a happy coincidence that I was assigned to work
in the tax department, which advised the world's largest leasing groups. I qualified
as an accountant and as a tax adviser
and gained great insight into the
industry that I have forged my career
in, particularly in relation to transaction
structuring and in dealing with complex
cross-border tax issues.
Once I had qualified, I knew I
wanted to learn more about the aircraft
leasing business and ORIX; its long
history in the business, diversified
business model and well-established
platform in Ireland seemed like a
great opportunity.
I began my career with ORIX as a
financial accountant, which provided
me with a really strong understanding
of the financial fundamentals of
our business. This solid foundation
(together with that tax experience
I already had) opened doors for
me within ORIX, and I was then
given opportunities to work across
multiple business functions, including
acquisitions, funding, corporate
Jetrader * AUTUMN 2021 * 15
ISTAT Jetrader - Autumn 2021

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