Lessons in Leadership: Noel Darcy, Global Head of HSSE, on building a safer SATS
For Noel, safety isn’t just a function; it’s a responsibility that connects every person, every process, and every place SATS operates.
As Global Head of HSSE (Health, Safety, Security & Environment), Noel brings more than experience to the table. He brings a vision to unite the SATS Group’s vast, fast-moving operations under a simple, powerful promise: to get everyone home safe and secure, every day.
Noel Darcy, Global Head, HSSE, SATS Group
An opportunity to build something meaningful inspired him to join SATS
When he joined the SATS Group, Noel didn’t just see it as a job but also the chance to leave a legacy, recognising how SATS is currently at a transformative point.
“SATS is growing rapidly into a truly global player. That kind of scale comes with complexity but also with the chance to build something meaningful,” Noel shares. “I was drawn to the opportunity to shape a world-class HSSE programme that brings thousands of employees together around a common goal.”
With operations spanning aviation, cargo handling, and food solutions, SATS touches every part of the travel journey—and every detail matters. “We move people, meals, and cargo. And in all that movement, the question is: are we doing it safely? That’s where HSSE steps in—not as a barrier, but as a foundation.”
Leadership isn’t control—it’s creating a space for trust
Over the years, Noel’s leadership style has been shaped by the inspiring leaders he's worked with. One value that stood out? The importance of trust.
“People need to feel confident to speak up, report, and take action, knowing they’ll be supported, not blamed,” he says. “When that trust is there, safety stops being a checklist. It becomes how people think, work, and lead.”
Another principle that’s stuck with him: the little things matter as much as the big things. “A mentor once told me, ‘If you want to stop the big incidents, pay attention to the small ones.’ That advice has stayed with me—because it’s often the small habits, the overlooked hazards, or the quiet voices that hold the biggest clues to risk.”
A strong safety culture is one where everyone—from the frontline to the boardroom—feels personally responsible for safety and is empowered to act
Noel believes that a strong safety culture isn’t defined by rules but by how people show up every day.
“It’s about frontline teams feeling personally responsible. About leaders walking the floor. About people choosing the safe way even when it’s the harder way,” he says.
But leading safety across a group as diverse as SATS—spanning geographies, business models, and regulatory environments—comes with challenges. “The real challenge is aligning standards and mindset globally while respecting local contexts,” Noel explains.
That’s where SATS’ unified Global Safety Management System (SMS) comes in. Built on non-negotiable safety principles, it creates a shared foundation for all operations—ramp, cargo, kitchens—while still allowing local teams to address unique risks.
The goal is simple: make safety personal, consistent, and visible
At the heart of Noel’s mission is making safety personal, consistent, and visible across our 215 locations in 25 countries. Achieving this takes more than posters and procedures but also how we lead, plan, and work.
One of his first steps was to align the entire SATS Group under a single Safety Management System, setting clear expectations and standards across the board. Alongside this, the team launched the “Home Safe & Secure Everyday” campaign, anchored on six simple but powerful behaviours: I Report, I Challenge, I Follow, I Keep, I’m Focused, and I’m Trained. “They’re simple, memorable, and empower everyone to take action,” Noel says.
Noel and his team are also driving visible leadership engagement through regular Gemba walks and investing in tools like the Pulse reporting system. These efforts are all part of building a culture where safety is a shared responsibility.
Ultimately, a safe workplace is a productive one, and protecting our people protects our business
With SATS operating in high-pressure, time-sensitive environments, how does safety coexist with performance?
“To me, safety and operational excellence aren’t in conflict—they’re two sides of the same coin,” says Noel. “A truly well-run operation is a safe one.”
The key, he says, is integration. Embedding safety into daily workflows, training people well, and using data to anticipate risks before they become incidents. “When you build safety into the system—not bolt it on—you don’t have to choose between safety and efficiency. You get both.”
If you want people to own safety, start by listening
Employee engagement, Noel says, starts on the ground. “We make space for conversations—during Gemba walks, feedback sessions, or safety huddles. When people feel heard, they participate more. That’s how ownership grows—not by enforcing it, but by earning it.”
It’s a mindset rooted in collaboration and care. And one that comes full circle with this year’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which centres on creating safe and healthy workplaces.
“This year’s theme resonates deeply,” he says. “Because in our industries—aviation, logistics, kitchens—safety is everything. It’s how we protect lives, safeguard operations, and return home to our families.”
Safety is about everyone and everything
If Noel could leave just one message with every SATS employee, it would be this:
“Safety is about everyone and everything—it’s not just a rule; it’s a responsibility. It’s about the people we work with, the families we go home to, the cargo we handle, the aircraft we turn around, and the meals we prepare. Every action we take matters—because at the heart of everything we do are people.”