Claire Geary is a name that resonates across the aviation industry for her strategic acumen, brand leadership, and deep-rooted communications expertise. Currently serving as the Group Marketing Director at Chapman Freeborn — part of the Avia Solutions Group — she plays a central role in shaping the firm’s global marketing strategy. Her career is a testament to how a well-honed communication skill set, combined with an intimate understanding of aviation, can propel a professional into influential leadership roles. In this article, we explore Claire Geary’s journey, her leadership philosophy, and the impact she’s making on the aviation world.
Early Career and Professional Background
Claire Geary’s rise to prominence didn’t happen overnight; it is grounded in decades of experience within the aviation sector. Before her current role at Chapman Freeborn, she served as the Marketing Director for the EMEA region at Cirium, a leading provider of aviation data and analytics. This role honed her ability to marry market insights with a compelling brand narrative — a skillset that would serve her incredibly well in future leadership positions.
Prior to Cirium, Geary’s career took root in two major global airlines: she held senior marketing and communications roles at South African Airways and Emirates Airline. At Emirates, she was Manager of Corporate Communications, Marketing & Brand — a high-profile position that exposed her to the complexities of global aviation branding, stakeholder management, and cross-cultural communication. This combination of operational, corporate, and geographically diverse experience laid the foundation for her current strategic outlook.
Role at Chapman Freeborn: Vision and Impact
In April 2023, Chapman Freeborn made a significant move by appointing Claire Geary as its Group Marketing Director, a newly created role that underscores the company’s ambition and trust in her capabilities. Reporting to Group CCO Neil Dursley, Geary leads a broad remit: brand development, marketing communications, public relations, and events.
In this capacity, Geary’s strategic vision is not just to maintain Chapman Freeborn’s reputation but to actively expand its market presence by aligning marketing with business goals. She works collaboratively with the executive committee, regional presidents, and the parent company — Avia Solutions Group — to craft a cohesive strategy that promotes growth, builds brand trust, and drives revenue. Her appointment reflects how deeply the company values her “wealth of aviation marketing experience.”
Leadership Philosophy and Strategic Approach
Claire Geary’s leadership philosophy combines empathy, clarity, and innovation. She understands that marketing in the aviation industry is not only about selling services — it’s about building relationships among fragmented, global stakeholders. Her time at Cirium and Emirates instilled in her a keen appreciation for data-driven storytelling, enabling her to guide communications in a way that’s both measurable and emotionally resonant.
In her Chapman Freeborn role, Geary emphasizes brand consistency and purpose-driven messaging. She doesn’t just market aircraft — she tells the story behind the wings. By placing brand communications and PR at the heart of the company’s growth strategy, she ensures that Chapman Freeborn’s value proposition is clearly understood and felt by clients, partners, and internal teams alike. Her event-driven strategy further amplifies the brand, leveraging industry conferences, client meetings, and global engagements to build strong personal connections and brand loyalty.
Challenges Faced and How She Navigates Them
Working in aviation marketing is inherently challenging. The industry is cyclical, heavily regulated, and deeply impacted by geopolitical and economic forces. For someone like Claire Geary, leading marketing at a global air charter specialist means navigating fluctuating demand, regulatory changes, and rapidly evolving customer expectations.
One of her biggest challenges is aligning global brand strategy with regional market realities. Chapman Freeborn operates in many geographies, each with its own market dynamics and cultural nuances. Geary mitigates this by building flexible marketing frameworks — ones that enable regional teams to localize messaging, while still preserving the integrity of the global brand.
Another challenge is maintaining innovation in a mature industry. To address this, Geary leverages her prior analytics experience (from Cirium) to bring a data-centric mindset to Chapman Freeborn’s marketing operations. By using data to inform campaign performance, customer segmentation, and brand positioning, she ensures marketing investments are not only creative but also ROI-driven.
Her Influence and Legacy in the Aviation Marketing Sphere
Claire Geary’s influence extends beyond day-to-day execution; she’s helping to reshape how marketing is perceived in the aviation world. Traditionally, aviation marketing has leaned toward operational and B2B communications. Geary, however, brings a more holistic, brand-centric approach — understanding that aviation isn’t just about planes but about people, trust, and perceptions.
Her legacy may well be defined by her ability to elevate Chapman Freeborn’s global brand while building a modern, agile marketing organization. By integrating communication strategy, branding, and data analytics under one umbrella, she’s creating a blueprint for how other aviation companies can build meaningful engagement in a complex industry.
Moreover, her background — spanning airlines, data companies, and global aviation charters — gives her a rare cross-domain perspective. This allows her to mentor younger marketers and leaders in the aviation sector, passing on lessons not just about campaign tactics, but about strategic alignment, stakeholder management, and the power of storytelling in a B2B environment.
Conclusion
Claire Geary stands as a shining example of how strategic marketing leadership can transform a global aviation business. With a deep well of experience across airlines, data analytics, and communication, she brings a visionary perspective to her role as Group Marketing Director at Chapman Freeborn. Her philosophy of purpose-driven brand building, combined with her data-informed approach, is helping the company soar to new heights. As she continues to shape its global identity, her influence reverberates across the aviation marketing landscape, inspiring future leaders and redefining what brand excellence means in the skies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Claire Geary
- Who is Claire Geary?
Claire Geary is the Group Marketing Director at Chapman Freeborn, a global air charter specialist under Avia Solutions Group. - What was Claire Geary’s role before joining Chapman Freeborn?
She was previously Marketing Director EMEA for Cirium and held senior communications and marketing roles at South African Airways and Emirates. - What are Claire Geary’s main responsibilities at Chapman Freeborn?
Her responsibilities include brand strategy, global marketing communications, public relations, and events. - Who does Claire Geary report to at Chapman Freeborn?
She reports to Neil Dursley, the Group Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). - What is Claire Geary’s leadership style?
Her leadership style emphasizes empathy, clarity, data-driven storytelling, and flexibility in global brand execution. - How does Claire Geary handle regional marketing differences?
She builds flexible frameworks that allow localization of messaging while keeping alignment with Chapman Freeborn’s global brand. - Why is Claire Geary’s appointment significant for Chapman Freeborn?
Her appointment marked a strategic push to elevate the company’s marketing function and brand presence globally. - What is Claire Geary’s approach to innovation in aviation marketing?
She applies a data-centric mindset, using analytics to guide campaigns, segment audiences, and optimize brand engagement. - How has Claire Geary impacted aviation marketing more broadly?
She’s redefining aviation marketing by marrying branding, communications, and strategic storytelling — influencing how aviation companies view their marketing vision. - What can aspiring aviation marketers learn from Claire Geary?
Aspiring marketers can learn the importance of cross-domain experience, the power of aligning communication with business strategy, and the value of using data to drive creative decisions.
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