The Airforwarders Association (AfA) has appointed Airlink leader Steve Smith as its new chief executive to take over from Brandon Fried.
Fried, who has led the AfA for 21 years and announced his retirement in February, will assist Smith during a transition period, allowing him to assume responsibility for the new role gradually as the AfA continues its advocacy work.
Smith brings over 25 years of leadership experience spanning aviation, logistics, and humanitarian response, including 13 years as president and chief executive of Airlink, and a senior commercial role with Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace.
“The work of the AfA has rarely been more important, with shifting trade policy, geopolitical disruption, and aging infrastructure adding pressure on supply chains that are already stretched,” said Steve Smith, incoming chief executive, Airforwarders Association.
“Forwarders need greater predictability as they navigate these pressures, and investment in the infrastructure that keeps it moving.
“Over the many years that Brandon and I have known each other, he has built a strong association with an influential voice, and I want to thank him for his dedicated service.
“I look forward to working alongside the AfA team, meeting more members, and ensuring forwarders continue to have an effective voice in Washington and across an industry that sits at the center of billions of dollars in global trade every day.”
At Airlink, Smith grew the organisation from a one-person start-up to a non-profit with revenue of almost $20m, working with more than 50 airlines and logistics companies, and 250 humanitarian groups across 100 countries, responding to more than 200 disasters and crises, and helping more than 80m people in need.
During his tenure at Airlink, Smith built the operational framework and infrastructure connecting the aviation industry to humanitarian relief that had not previously existed, shaping how airlines, logistics providers, and aid organizations coordinate crisis response.
Smith also directed the organization’s response during major global disruptions, including COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine War, the Ebola outbreak, and the 2023 Türkiye earthquake, and has served as a NATO spokesperson and subject matter expert on public and private sector crisis response.
“Steve brings extensive aviation and logistics experience, a strong understanding of air cargo, and established relationships across all areas of the industry,” said Brandon Fried, outgoing executive director, Airforwarders Association.
“He understands the issues affecting the industry and the importance of engaging members, and I am confident he is well-placed to lead the AfA and build on the work we have done over the past two decades.”
Smith’s work has been recognised by former President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative, and he is an alumnus of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program, a joint leadership initiative of the presidential centers of George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Additionally, Smith serves on the board of InterAction, the largest U.S. alliance of international NGOs, is a Board Trustee of the Aero Club of Washington, and serves on the advisory board of GoCrisis, a crisis management company.
