A number of high-profile management changes have taken place within the industry since last year’s NBAA Convention, with new leaders in place at several OEMs, including Embraer, Quest and Boeing Business Jets; service providers such as BBA Aviation, insurance underwriter USAIG; and many other companies.
Within weeks of NBAA wrapping up last year in Orlando, Florida, the leaders of Boeing Business Jets, Marenco Swisshelicopter and Quest Aircraft announced planned departures. BBJ president David Longridge announced during the December 2016 MEBAA convention that he was returning to the commercial aircraft side of Boeing after heading BBJ for the past two years. A 23-year Boeing veteran, Longridge became v-p of sales for Commercial Aviation Services. Greg Laxton succeeded Longridge after serving as sales director in the Northeast Asia region, responsible for the sales of commercial airplanes and related services to Air China, Air China Cargo, Shandong Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines. He joined Boeing in 2004 as the capture team lead for the F-15K follow-on programs in Korea and Singapore.
Quest Aircraft CEO Sam Hill retired at the beginning of 2017, following a 50-year career in the aviation industry. Robert Wells succeeded Hill as CEO, while Hill remained as an advisor to the company and member of the board of directors. Wells, who brings more than 40 years of aviation experience to Quest, most recently spent 15 years with TAG Aviation, where he had become CEO of the holding company.
At Embraer Executive Jets former CEO Marco Tulio Pellegrini took a new role as CEO of Embraer’s OGMA joint venture in Portugal. Embraer tapped business aviation finance veteran Michael Amalfitano to succeed Pellegrini. Amalfitano joined Embraer with 35 years of experience in business aircraft finance, having held several key positions at equipment-leasing companies such as Stonebriar Commercial Finance, Banc of America Leasing, Fleet Capital and GE Capital.
Marenco Swisshelicopter founder and CEO Martin Stucki mutually agreed with the company's board to “retire.” Stucki was replaced by former Airbus Helicopters senior executive Andreas Lowenstein.
As for BBA Aviation Simon Pryce, who had served as CEO of BBA Aviation for 10 years, stepped down on June 30. Wayne Edmunds, a non-executive director of the group since 2013, is serving as interim CEO until a permanent successor is named. Pryce assisted Edmunds and the board through a transition. Edmunds has a long executive background, including previously serving as CEO of Invensys, and has been chairman of BBA’s Audit and Risk Committee.
Also, USAIG chairman and CEO David McKay plans to retired after nearly 40 years with the company. John Brogan, president and COO at parent company United States Aviation Underwriters, became president and CEO at USAIG. Brogan currently serves on the Flight Safety Foundation’s business advisory committee and is a certified aviation insurance professional.
Other key changes announced over the past year:
Jean Lydon-Rodgers took the role of president and CEO of GE Aviation Services. Lydon-Rodgers began her career with GE in the aerospace unit’s manufacturing management program before moving to GE Aviation, where she most recently was president and CEO of GE Aviation, Military Systems.
Global Jet Capital appointed Bill Boisture as chairman. Boisture, an operating partner at Global Jet investor AE Industrial Partners and previous executive director of Global Jet, has more than 35 years of industry experience, leading companies including Gulfstream, NetJets, SimuFlite and Beechcraft. He succeeded Shawn Vick, who took the role of CEO at Global Jet. Previously executive director and chairman of the Executive Committee of Global Jet Capital, Vick has been and will remain a partner at AE Industry Partners and further has held senior level positions with Gulfstream, Bombardier, British Aerospace, Hawker Beechcraft and Landmark Aviation.
Jeffrey Lee joined FlightSafety International as executive director, business aviation development. Lee has a 25-year legacy of managing large flight departments, most recently as v-p of aviation for American Express, and before that spent 30 years as director of flight operations for IBM. He has served on the NBAA board of directors for 12 years, including as chairman from 2007 to 2009.
Esterline Corporation named Pierre Rossignol as president of its Advanced Sensors group of companies. Rossignol, who began his career with an Esterline sensors business, previously spent 14 years with Airbus Helicopters, most recently leading Malaysian operations, and also has served as a sales director for Aircelle’s engine nacelle.
DART Aerospace promoted Alain Madore to president and CEO. Most recently vice president commercial operations and aftermarket services, Madore succeeds Bill Beckett, who is retired.
Alex Overstrom was named to head PNC Aviation Finance. He succeeds Wayne Starling, who is retiring after a 40-year career in business aircraft financing. Formerly COO of PNC Corporate Banking, Overstrom joined PNC from Goldman Sachs eight years ago.
Jon Taylor was promoted to president of JB&A Aviation. He succeeds Jerry Smith, who is becoming chairman emeritus after serving as president since 1997. Most recently vice president, Taylor joined JB&A in 1983 after serving with CVT Machine Tool in Dallas.
Stu Willcuts returned to the position of president and CEO of Air Serv International. Willcuts stepped in for Dave Carlstrom, who held the role from 2009-2016 and helped steer the organization through financial difficulties and expand its humanitarian reach. Willcuts has more than 30 years of humanitarian experience, and previously was president and CEO of AirServe from 2000-2006.
Avinode promoted Annika Abraham to managing director of the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia region. Abraham has served with Avinode for six years as CFO and also has held financial roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Nordea and Volvo Business Services.
Fernando de Caralt has taken the helm of BRS Aerospace as CEO. Caralt has served with BRS for five years, most recently as senior v-p of engineering, and before that held a number of leadership roles, including as president and CEO of Cimsa IngenierĂa de Sistemas, director of Ingenia Ingenieria Aeronautica AIE, director and CEO of TAF Helicopters.
Erickson appointed Doug Kitani to serve as CEO and director, filling a role on a permanent basis that had been held by acting CEO Andrew Mills. Mills will continue to serve in an executive capacity for Erickson. Kitani previously was CEO and director for IAP Worldwide Services and before that had been involved in portfolio strategies and corporate development for DynCorp International and also held management roles with Honeywell and General Electric.
Metrojet named Gary Dolski as CEO. Dolski joins the Hong Kong-based operator with 35 years of experience with Bristol Aerospace, Bombardier, MD Helicopters and Jet Aviation, among other aviation companies.
Mario Lepine was appointed CEO for business aircraft interiors producer F. List Canada. Lepine formerly was general manager of F. List’s Montreal subsidiary.
Delta Private Jets named Gary Hammes as president. Hammes, a 30-year airline veteran, most recently was COO at Virgin Australia and also has served as senior v-p and COO at World Airways and Astar Air Cargo.
JetAviva named Tim White president. White, a managing partner, previously served as senior v-p of sales for the Americas for Cessna and as a senior sales executive for Bombardier. The company also promoted Rene Changtin to vice president, Latin America and Learjet markets. Changtin has 20 years of aviation industry experience, previously holding positions with Eclipse Aviation, Diamond Aircraft and Bombardier Aerospace.
Harrods Aviation promoted Dawn Wyatt to head of Air Harrods. Wyatt has served with Harrods for 29 years, most recently as head of operations. She has held a number of roles with Westland Helicopters in Battersea over her aviation career.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University named Barry Butler president. He joins Embry-Riddle from the University of Iowa, where he had served for 33 years and most recently was executive v-p and provost.
As for aviation associations, a couple of key changes have occurred over the past year:
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) brought in veteran communications and marketing executive Brandon Mitchener to run the association. Mitchener succeeds Fabio Gamba, who departed the association earlier this year after serving at the helm for about five and a half years. Mitchener has had a 25-year career as a journalist and public affairs professional in Europe, most recently as head of corporate communications for Monsanto in Europe and the Middle East. He also has served as director of public relations EMEA for First Solar and worked as a European public affairs consultant at APCO Worldwide.
Rudy Toering, president and CEO of the Canadian Business Aviation Association, announced plans to retire in February 2018. Toering, who has 40 years of industry experience, has led the association since 2013, and before that held roles with FlightPath International, CAE, FlightSafety International, Air Canada and Innotech Aviation. CBAA has launched the search for a successor.
