Steven Graham: The Maverick Who Leased the Skies — and Found His Soul in Mallorca
How one of aviation’s top financiers built a global business on passion, people, and purpose.
Steven Graham, co-founder of Avolon Aircraft Leasing, has a CV packed with high finance, transatlantic deals, and global strategy. But sit down with him for 30 minutes, and it’s clear that people, passion, and purpose matter more to him than spreadsheets ever did. Growing up in Belfast, Steven was drawn to stability. “I was always nervous around money,” he says. That mindset led him to study actuarial mathematics and qualify as a chartered accountant. But numbers alone weren’t enough. “I realised I didn’t want to be an auditor or a mathematician.” A short-lived CFO role — cut short by a clash of values — taught him an enduring lesson: never work with people you don’t like. That instinctive sense of integrity would shape his career. During the 2008 financial crisis, unemployed after a company collapse, a conversation with colleague Dómhnal Slattery sparked the idea that became Avolon. “It was scary. There were so many pushbacks and people saying no.” But two years of relentless fundraising paid off. Avolon launched in 2010 and is now one of the world’s leading aircraft leasing companies. Steven is quick to credit others. “We weren’t experienced. We didn’t have the networks. The ten people who joined us early on — they were all mentors to me.” He speaks warmly of friendships forged in the trenches of startup life, from a private equity partner whose wedding he later attended, to a pianist-turned-financier who once played for Billy Joel. That people-first approach defines how Avolon does business. “Customer service is everything. When a client calls you before launching a formal process, that’s a sign you’ve done something right.” Trust, he says, is the non-negotiable. “Once it’s broken, it’s almost impossible to rebuild. You have to be honest — especially when the news is bad.” Outside the boardroom, Steven’s passions run deep. A marathon runner and triathlete, he fell in love with Mallorca during the pandemic and bought a home there — sight unseen. “The food, the mountains, the people… it had everything.” A lifelong love of cuisine, inspired by his mother, a talented cook, led him to open a restaurant with a local friend, Santi. Three years in, it’s thriving. “Staff loyalty is high, community ties are deep. I never want to be seen taking it for granted.” Steven’s future vision is about investing in ventures that reflect his personal passions, meaningful friendships, and a life surrounded by people where trust and values come first. “They don’t know I’m in aviation. We just talk about life.” Looking back, he reflects with quiet pride. “I didn’t think I’d take so many risks. I didn’t think it’d work.” His advice to the next generation? “Choose passion over convention. And always, always be honest.”
Thanks Steven,
Gerry
