The Airforwarders Association (AfA) has named Airlink president and chief executive Steve Smith as its new CEO, ending the 21-year tenure of Brandon Fried, who announced his retirement in February.

Fried will stay on through a transition period to hand over responsibilities gradually while the association continues its advocacy work in Washington on behalf of air freight forwarders.

Smith arrives with more than 25 years of leadership experience across aviation, logistics and humanitarian response. He spent 13 years at the helm of Airlink, the nonprofit that connects airlines and logistics companies with disaster relief operations, and previously held a senior commercial role at Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace.

At Airlink, Smith scaled the organisation from a one-person start-up to a nonprofit with revenue of almost $20m. Under his leadership it worked with more than 50 airlines and logistics companies and 250 humanitarian groups across 100 countries, responded to more than 200 disasters and crises, and assisted more than 80 million people in need.

Smith built the operational framework and infrastructure connecting the aviation industry to humanitarian relief where none had previously existed, reshaping how airlines, logistics providers and aid organisations coordinate crisis response. He directed the organisation's response to major global disruptions including COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, the Ebola outbreak and the 2023 Türkiye earthquake. He has also served as a NATO spokesperson and subject matter expert on public and private sector crisis response.

His agenda at the AfA is defined by the pressures now bearing on the forwarding sector.

"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," Smith said. "Forwarders need greater predictability as they navigate these pressures, and investment in the infrastructure that keeps it moving."

He also acknowledged the foundation built by his predecessor. "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," Smith said. "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."

Fried endorsed the appointment, citing Smith's industry standing and relationships.

"Steve brings extensive aviation and logistics experience, a strong understanding of air cargo, and established relationships across all areas of the industry," Fried said. "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."

Beyond Airlink, Smith's credentials span both policy and industry circles. Former President Bill Clinton recognised his work at the Clinton Global Initiative, and he is an alumnus of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program, a joint initiative of the presidential centers of George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Lyndon B. Johnson. He 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 sits on the advisory board of crisis management company GoCrisis.

Smith takes over the association at a moment when U.S. trade policy shifts and infrastructure constraints are reshaping the operating environment for forwarders, with the AfA positioned to press their case in Washington as those pressures intensify.