Our Team

James is the Chief Executive Officer of ORIX Aviation Systems Limited and ORIX Aviation Management ME Ltd. with 23 years’ experience in the aviation industry. Prior to this, he held the positions of Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Commercial Officer of ORIX Aviation. James is a Board Director of the company since 2015. He has served as a Board Director of Avolon since February 2022.

James worked with ORIX Aviation from 2002 to 2007 and was Vice President of Acquisitions, New Business and Capital Markets. James spent two years as Managing Director, Head of Marketing and Capital Markets for Aergo Capital Group before returning to ORIX Aviation in 2009. James has also held previous positions as Executive Assistant to Tony Ryan and CFO of TARA Aerospace, along with a senior management role in the aviation team at KBC Aerospace Finance.

He holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree in Banking and Finance from University College Dublin. James was previously elected to the Board of Directors of ISTAT for a four-year term from 2015 to 2019 and currently serves as Chairman of the Wings Club Foundation European Chapter.

Marie-Louise Kelly is the Chief Financial Officer of ORIX Aviation. In her role she is responsible for leading ORIX Aviation’s Finance, Technical, Legal, IT and Corporate Planning departments. As a senior member of the ExCo leadership team she holds a key position in terms of strategic planning and directing a number of operational functions across the organisation.

Marie-Louise joined ORIX Aviation in 2009. Prior to being appointed to her current role, she held various positions across finance, commercial, corporate planning and structuring. She was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2016, joining the Board of ORIX Aviation in 2018. In April of 2024, Marie-Louise was appointed Senior Executive Officer of ORIX Aviation.

Marie-Louise has over twenty years’ experience in financial services. Prior to joining ORIX, she trained in KPMG Dublin’s Financial Services Tax division. She holds an Honours Degree in Commerce and an Honours Masters of Business Studies from University College Dublin. Marie-Louise is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor. She served as Chair of industry lobby group, Aircraft Leasing Ireland from July 2022 to July 2024.

Yushi is the Chief Investment Officer of ORIX Aviation. In his role, he is responsible for leading ORIX Aviation’s Commercial, Trading, Acquisition and Risk teams. As a senior member of the ExCo leadership team based in Dublin he is central to ORIX Aviation’s strategic planning, as well as managing shareholder relations.

Yushi joined ORIX Corporation in 2002 and held various positions across sales and marketing, group treasury, corporate funding and investment, based in Japan, Hong Kong, and Ireland. He joined the Board of ORIX Aviation in 2019 and was appointed Chief Investment Officer and Senior Executive Officer in 2024.

With over twenty years experience in financial services, Yushi holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan and a Diploma in International Business from the U.C. Berkeley in the US.

Ryujiro Tokuma became a member of ORIX Aviation’s Board in 2022. He also serves as Executive Officer and Head of Global Transportation Services Headquarters of ORIX Corporation, the sole shareholder of ORIX Aviation.

Mr. Tokuma joined ORIX Corporation in April 1996 and leads ORIX’s ship business segment as President of ORIX Maritime Corporation since March 2012 and the Head of Ship and Marine Project Group since September 2014.

Mr. Tokuma holds a Bachelor Degree in Law from Aoyama Gakuin University.

Kei Kitagawa has served as a director since April 2020. Mr. Kitagawa is a member of the Board of Directors of ORIX Aviation. He also serves as Deputy Executive Officer, Deputy Head of Global Transportation Services Headquarters and Head of Aviation and Investment Group for ORIX Corporation, the sole shareholder of ORIX Aviation, with approximately 20 years’ experience in the aviation industry.

Mr. Kitagawa joined ORIX Corporation in 1998 and has responsibility for ORIX Group’s business strategies and budgets in the aviation industry and a core role pioneering the Japanese Operating Leasing in the Japanese market. Mr. Kitagawa was appointed to the Head of Aviation and Investment Group in May 2015, Deputy Head of Global Transportation Services Headquarters in January 2019 and Operating Officer in January 2024.

He holds a Bachelor Degree in Law and a MBA in Finance from Chuo University, Tokyo.