Some decisions take months of planning, while others can happen in an instant. For Vytautas Kazukauskas, CFO of Avion Express Brasil, the choice to move to Brazil was made in just 30 minutes. After a quick discussion with his wife, he embraced the opportunity to lead a new venture in a country he had always wanted to experience. With years of growth within the Avia Solutions Group and a passion for exploring new cultures, taking on a leadership role in Brazil felt like a natural next step.
Having spent seven years in Asia, Vytautas had already gained extensive experience working across various start-ups within the Group, including FL Technics Indonesia and BBN Airlines Indonesia. By 2024, he noticed he had learned and contributed all he could in the region and was ready for a new challenge. “The Group offers this unique opportunity to work in an industry I love while exploring different parts of the world. It doesn’t get better than that,” he shares.
Upon arriving in Brazil, Vytautas was pleasantly surprised by the country’s vibrant culture. “Brazilians don’t seem to have a single, standard look. You can’t always tell if someone is Brazilian, European, or Asian, which makes the country incredibly diverse and welcoming,” he notes. While safety concerns had been raised before his move, the CFO soon realised that perceptions can sometimes be exaggerated. The most unexpected challenge of the relocation, however, turned out to be… bringing his cat! “The amount of money and effort it takes to bring a pet to another country is hard to believe,” he recalls.
Beyond the logistics, the transition was made smoother with strong support from the company, particularly in handling visa and relocation processes. “A huge thank you to our People and Culture Specialist Santa Kliukaite for making the process as seamless as possible,” he adds. As he settled into life in Brazil, Vytautas found himself drawn to the country’s strong sense of community: “People love to socialise here — evenings are spent in cafés, with friends and family coming together, which is just one of the many things that help me feel like home.”
In just over eight months, Vytautas has already gained invaluable professional experience from this relocation. Leading a start-up within the Group for the third time, he thrives in environments where he can build from the ground up. “There’s no better learning experience than creating everything from scratch,” he explains. And while aviation is not new to him, the ACMI business comes with its own unique complexities. In addition, picking up Portuguese has been an important part of adapting to the new role and surroundings. “Hochi doggi (hot dog), facee booke (Facebook), watchee sappee (WhatsApp)… it’s a work in progress,” he shares.
Living and working in different countries has broadened Vytautas’ perspective, making him more adaptable and open to new ways of thinking. He encourages colleagues considering a similar opportunity to take the leap: “Go for it! Working in a different country and culture elevates you both professionally and personally. Choose a place that excites you, as it makes the experience even more rewarding.”
When asked about his plans, Vytautas shared that he’s now fully focused on growing Avion Express Brasil: "As a CFO, I’d like to spend the next three years building and optimising, and then two more years enjoying the results before even thinking about what my next challenge could be." He also looks forward to making the most of his time in Latin America, with hopes of taking a Caribbean cruise and possibly even visiting Antarctica.
Bergamo, Italy
