Ilya Burkin is Global Marketing Director at ADB SAFEGATE, a global aviation-technology company. He leads global B2B marketing by connecting commercial strategy, brand, demand generation, product marketing, market intelligence, digital experience and emerging technology.
Career and executive education
Before joining ADB SAFEGATE, Ilya’s professional experience included work for SITA, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Veovo. This background spans global technology, aviation and strategic consulting environments, shaping a commercially grounded approach to marketing leadership.
His executive education includes the Strategic Leadership Programme at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and Team and People Management at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
From execution to influence
Ilya’s central argument is simple: marketing does not become strategic by producing more material. It becomes strategic when it improves what the business can see, decide and sell. That requires an operating system connecting customer insight, positioning, product experience, campaigns, data and commercial accountability.
His current focus includes building a more integrated global marketing model, strengthening demand generation, improving the connection between marketing and commercial systems, and applying AI to real marketing work rather than treating it as a communications theme.
Technology and aviation
Working in airside technology has shaped Ilya’s point of view. Airports are complex operating environments where infrastructure, software, data and human decisions must work together. He applies the same systems thinking to marketing: isolated capability creates activity; connection creates performance.
Thought leadership in practice
Ilya created and led the Airside Innovation Summit as a global, broadcast-quality industry conversation. The 2026 programme attracted 1,488 viewers, reached 79 countries and achieved participant satisfaction of 9.6 out of 10. It demonstrates his preferred model of thought leadership: an original point of view, credible evidence and an experience designed to move a market conversation forward.
His external industry contributions include From Ramp Congestion to Intelligent Apron: Rethinking Airside Coordination, published by Airports Council International – North America in March 2026.
Areas of expertise
Global B2B marketing strategy, marketing transformation, AI in marketing, marketing operations, demand generation, product marketing, marketing intelligence, brand strategy, commercial growth, aviation technology marketing and executive communications.