ECS Group has announced the appointment of air cargo veteran Steve Hughes as the incoming Managing Director of Globe Air Cargo (GAC) UK, while paying tribute to Michelle House, who will retire at the end of the year after a decade leading the business and a distinguished 44-year career in the air cargo industry.
Steve Hughes joins Globe Air Cargo UK from Wexco Cargo GSSA, where he served as Managing Director for seven years. His air cargo career began in 1998 at British Airways Cargo, where he held a range of roles that laid the foundations of his industry expertise. In 2005, he moved to Virgin Atlantic Cargo, spending 12 years in senior commercial positions covering regional sales and customer management across EMEA and the Americas, as well as global key account management.
In 2017, Hughes transitioned from airline roles to GSSA management, leveraging his deep operational and commercial experience to bridge airline and freight forwarder requirements effectively.
Commenting on his appointment, Steve Hughes, Managing Director of Globe Air Cargo UK, said:
“I am delighted to become part of the world’s largest and leading GSSA. The multi-award-winning ECS Group represents the pinnacle of what a GSSA can offer. I am joining the Globe Air Cargo UK team at an optimum moment – we have a strong team, established airline partners and loyal customers.
“My focus will be on continuing to grow and develop our relationships and business, making full use of ECS Group’s market-leading data suite and digital infrastructure to improve efficiencies and deliver truly customised solutions. The combination of ECS Group’s international reach, our excellent UK team, and my local knowledge, experience and network creates an unparalleled service offering for airlines and forwarders in the UK. Exciting times ahead.”
Jean Ceccaldi, Chief Executive Officer of ECS Group, welcomed the appointment, stating:
“With Steve Hughes, Globe Air Cargo UK and its customers are getting the best of both worlds. He has a deep understanding of how airlines operate and what they expect from a GSSA, combined with hands-on experience in managing a GSSA.
“Steve’s strong focus on customer-centricity, process optimisation and sales performance closely aligns with ECS Group’s values. Together, we will focus on further improving load factors for existing customers while expanding Globe Air Cargo UK’s customer base into new regions.”
Ceccaldi also expressed his appreciation to the outgoing Managing Director, adding:
“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks, on behalf of ECS Group, to Michelle House for her outstanding contribution to Globe Air Cargo UK over the past ten years. We wish her a happy and well-deserved retirement after an impressive 44 years in the industry.”
To ensure continuity, Steve Hughes has been working closely with Michelle House since October 2025, supporting a smooth leadership transition by December 2025. Reflecting on the handover, Hughes said:
“I have known and worked with Michelle for many years during our time at Virgin Atlantic, so it has been a privilege to take over from her. Michelle has done an incredible job during her ten years at Globe Air Cargo UK, and I certainly have big shoes to fill. We have had a busy agenda meeting key airline partners and customers to ensure continuity and consistency. A huge thank you to Michelle for her support.”
The appointment marks a new chapter for Globe Air Cargo UK as it looks to build on its strong market position under the ECS Group network.