Denis Ilin, the much-respected executive president of AirBridgeCargo, has resigned after three years heading up the carrier during which time the Moscow-based maindeck player underwent tremendous growth including the confirmation of an order just last month for 20 B747-8Fs.

Ilin started his management career in AirBridgeCargo as director of operations and from 2006 to 2008 he worked as general director of the airline and later rejoined AirBridgeCargo team in 2013 in the position of executive president.

“Denis Ilin made a significant contribution to the boosting of the airline’s operational results and overall FTK figures as well as to opening the new ABC stations in North America ad Southeast Asia, thus bringing the company to its solid position in the key markets,” the airline’s parent Volga-Dnepr said in a statement.

“The top management of Volga-Dnepr Group would like to express their gratitude to Denis Ilin for his substantial contribution to the development of the scheduled cargo business of AirBridgeCargo Airlines and wish him every success in his business career,” the airline group added. No mention has been made of London-based Ilin’s successor.