Building AEI, One Challenge at a Time.

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In this interview with with Jakub Brunovský, Head of Sales Department you´ll learn:

• How AEI grew from a small company into an internationally respected business.
• Why Jakub has stayed with AEI for 15 years and what continues to motivate him.
• What makes the aircraft spare parts business unique and why it matters.
• What makes AEI’s company culture special and why people come first.
• What challenges lie ahead for aviation, including AI and the importance of know-how.

You’ve been part of AEI for 15 years. What do you remember about your beginnings at the company?

Let me start even earlier. Braňo Cifra (CEO) and I worked together for the same airline for three and a half years. When he decided to start his own company, he called me and said he wasn’t sure if it would succeed, but asked whether I’d like to join him. I said yes, and today I’m the longest-serving employee after the company’s founders.

In the early days, we built everything from the ground up. My role was to establish the Production Planning Department. That meant making sure our maintenance operation—at the time supporting Wizz Air in Romania—had the right number of mechanics, spare parts, and tools in the right place at the right time. We were also the customer’s single point of contact. I started on my own, but over time the team grew to five people, and we became a 24/7 operation with a strong reputation among our customers.

How has your role evolved over the years?

 After three years, I felt it was time for a new challenge. We saw an opportunity to expand beyond maintenance into spare parts sales and logistics support, so we established the Sales Department, which I still lead today.

What has motivated you to stay with one company for so many years?

From the very beginning, I appreciated the opportunity to grow, the trust I received from the company’s founders, and the chance to build my own team of people I genuinely enjoy working with.

How has the company changed over the years?

It has grown tremendously—in size, in the range of customers we serve, and in the markets where we operate. What hasn’t changed are our values: treating both employees and customers with fairness and respect.

Today, you lead the Spare Parts Sales Department. What are the main responsibilities of your role?

I see my responsibilities on two levels. The first is towards my team of eight people. My goal is to provide stability and create an environment where they enjoy coming to work, while also supporting colleagues across the company. The second is commercial. I’m constantly looking for secure business opportunities that will help AEI grow faster than the competition.

What are you most proud of in your career?

I’m proud that we’ve grown from what felt like the very bottom sixteen years ago into one of the top 1% of the largest companies in Slovakia—and we achieved it fairly, honestly, and through hard work.

How would you describe AEI’s company culture?

AEI is a place where people can truly be themselves and openly express their opinions, even when those opinions are critical. When we recruit new colleagues, we don’t just look at their CV—we also want to see whether they’ll fit into the team. Every candidate meets the entire team during the interview process so we can get a sense of how well we connect. It works, and it’s one of the reasons I genuinely look forward to coming to work every day—even after returning from vacation.

Do you have a memorable story that you’ll never forget?

Yes, there’s one that perfectly represents what we do. We once managed to source a spare part manufactured in 1972 for a Boeing 737 Classic. It was the only available unit left anywhere in the world, and nearly 50 years after it had been produced, it still played a critical role in keeping the aircraft operational. Had we not found it, that particular Boeing would never have flown again.

Today, it’s not unusual for the phone to ring and for companies like American Airlines or Air New Zealand to be on the other end, looking for a highly specific aircraft spare part. Thanks to our expertise and our global network, we’ve become one of only a handful of companies in the world able to provide exactly what they need. A few years ago, we could hardly have imagined that. Today, it’s a reality—and proof that AEI’s name carries weight.

What are the biggest challenges in your field?

I believe the biggest challenge is preserving our know-how and the added value we provide so that our work cannot simply be outsourced or replaced by AI. We have to stay several steps ahead at all times.

What has this job given you, both professionally and personally?

Aviation is a childhood dream come true for me. As a boy, I collected airline timetables and books about aircraft. It’s an industry where people know each other, respect each other, and leave their egos at the door. AEI is the reason I came to Slovakia 15 years ago—and, so far, the only reason I’ve stayed.