2020 Airport Business Top 40 Under 40: Petar Todorovic, AM

Nov. 24, 2020

When Petar Todorovic’s family immigrated to the U.S. from Serbia in the late 1990’s, the only part of the trip that he really recalls was being on an airplane and how cool it was.

Todorovic went to school to be an air traffic controller, but quickly discovered it wasn’t for him. He moved his focus to the management side and came into an opportunity that grew the love for the industry.

“I love not knowing what I’ll be doing every day,” he said. “We never know when you pick up the phone who’s going to be on the other end of that line, what the problem is, what the issue is and what they will need help with. The excitement of not knowing what I’ll be doing every day keeps me coming back for more.”

As the vice president at Sage-Popovich Inc. (SPI), Todorovic is involved in every aspect of the business, which includes valuations and asset management, consulting and technical advisory services, business aircraft services, as well as liquidation and repossession of both aircraft and inventory.  He is an ASA licensed appraiser and Accredited Member of the American Society of Appraisers, as well as a member of ISTAT.

He's also an FAA licensed Dispatcher. Todorovic served as director of flight operations for SPI, formerly overseeing all Part 91 and 135 operations of the company’s corporate flight department.

“I like the fact that I’m in a little bit of everything,” he said.

In 2014, Todorovic was a founding member and managing partner of Ceres Biofuel Group LLC, where he managed a group dedicated to developing efficient methods to produce and distribute biomass for biofuel production.

Prior to becoming vice president, Todorovic served as asset valuation manager and continues to appraise and report on aviation related assets, both tangible and intangible, totaling more than $10 billion per calendar year. This includes valuations of airframes, helicopters, engines, spare parts inventories, ground support equipment, etc.

In addition, he serves as audit and inspection team lead for projects in the U.S. and worldwide including major airlines and manufacturers.

He has assisted in well over 300 repossessions and led SPI’s team which repossessed, liquidated, and remarketed more than 25 business aircraft. These repossessed and/or returned aircraft were located all around the world, including North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and China.

“Every situation is different,” Todorovic said. “I like thinking on my feet. I like thinking under pressure.”