The Airforwarders Association (AfA) has appointed aviation and supply chain leader, Steve Smith, as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), succeeding Brandon Fried, who will remain to support the leadership transition.
Who is Steve Smith?
Steve Smith brings in over 25 years of leadership experience spanning aviation, logistics and humanisation response.
He was the former Airlink President and CEO for 13 years, which started from a one-person startup and has since grown into a non-profit organisation with almost $20 million in annual revenue. Airlink is a logistics matchmaking organisation that helps connect humanitarian groups connect with airlines to ship relief supplies to disaster areas.
During his tenure, Airlink worked with over 50 airlines and logistics companies, and 250 humanitarian groups across 100 countries, responding to more than 200 disasters. Airlink has estimated it has helped over 80 million people in crisis.
Smith also directed the organisation’s response during major global disruptions, including COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine War, the Ebola outbreak, and the 2023 Turkey earthquake, and has served as a NATO spokesperson and subject matter expert on public and private sector crisis response. Smith has since left Airlink in September 2025.
Prior to Airlink, Smith was a senior commercial role with Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace, where he negotiated large commercial deals.
Steve Smith, incoming Chief Executive Officer, Airforwarders Association, has said:
“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. 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 centre of billions of dollars in global trade every day.”
Who was the Former CEO of AfA?
Smith succeeds Brandon Fried, who has led the AfA for 21 years, announced in February that he planned to retire at the end of the year. Fried will assist Smith during a transition period, as he settles into his new role.
Brandon Fried, outgoing Executive Director, Airforwarders Association, noted about Steve Smith:
“Steve brings extensive aviation and logistics experience, a strong understanding of air cargo, and established relationships across all areas of the industry. 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 also serves on the board of InterAction, the largest US alliance of international NGOs (no-governmental organisation), is a Board Trustee of the Aero Club of Washington, and serves on the advisory board of GoCrisis, a crisis management company.
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