• 01 Nov 2024 02:15 AM
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Leadership Moves, Nov/Dec 2024

MD Helicopters Appoints Ryan Weeks as President

MD Helicopters (MDH) promoted Ryan Weeks to president of the company on June 27. Weeks succeeds Brad Pedersen, who remains its chief executive officer (CEO). Both Weeks and Pedersen began working at MDH in 2022. Weeks, as president, will draw on experience from his previous work as MDH Vice President of Aftermarket Sales & Service. Adapting to the aftermarket supply chain challenges of recent years, MDH states it has “made significant improvements in the past two years in supporting its fielded fleet with increases in spares volume, repair and overhaul volume.”

Supernal Hires Tracy Lamb for Quality, Safety

Supernal announced in July Dr. Tracy Lamb as its new chief quality and safety officer. Supernal highlighted Lamb’s expertise with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations for uncrewed aircraft safety. She is a certified pilot, having flown Boeing 767 and 757 freighters on international cargo routes for Amazon Prime.

Former Boeing Executive Marc Allen is New Electra CEO

On Aug. 29, Electra.aero introduced Marc Allen as its new CEO, as the company’s founder John Langford steps aside from the role while remaining as chairman of the board to influence its strategy and innovation. Allen had previously worked at Boeing as chief strategy officer and senior vice president for strategy and corporate development. His duties at Boeing included leading Wisk Aero’s restructuring and full acquisition.

New Volocopter Chair Dieter Zetsche Seeks New CEO

On Sept. 3, Volocopter announced the appointment of Dr. Dieter Zetsche as the chairman of its advisory board. Zetsche, since 2006, had been chair of the management board at Daimler AG and is poised to lead Volocopter’s strategy after CEO Dirk Hoke steps down in February 2025. Amid the executive search, Volocopter stated, “Hoke's successor as CEO will be announced by the Advisory Board in due course.” Zetsche succeeds previous chair Stefan Klocke, who will remain on the German startup’s board.

Textron eAviation Promotes Tricia Steel

Textron eAviation introduced Tricia Steel as the electric flight company’s new Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing on Sept. 3. In 2023, she joined the Textron company’s eAviation subsidiary as director of business strategy. Steel draws on 11 years of experience at Textron. She joined the company in 2013 as program manager for special missions, when she planned and managed operations in logistics, supply chain, contracts, engineering, manufacturing and quality assurance disciplines.

Robinson Selects New VPs

On Sept. 4, Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) announced the appointment of Randall Schaffer as Vice President of Customer Success to oversee customer support, repair and overhaul teams. Schaffer previously worked at Parker Aerospace from 2018–2024 before departing as its aftermarket business development manager. He had previously worked at MDH from 2012–2018.

On Oct. 7, RHC appointed Will Fulton as Vice President of Business Development to expand fleet sales. Fulton’s aerospace career has included jobs at Airbus Helicopters, where he was head of marketing in North America, and jobs at Bell in both sales and engineering.

Former R-R Executive Megha Bhatia is now Eve CCO

On Sept. 17, Eve Air Mobility introduced Megha Bhatia as its new chief commercial officer (CCO) to oversee global sales and government relations. Bhatia joined from Jet Support Services, where she worked as chief strategy officer. She previously worked at Rolls-Royce from 2010–2023, most recently as vice president of sales for business jets.

Enstrom Helicopter Hires Larry Pilkington

Enstrom Helicopter Corporation announced the appointment of Larry Pilkington as its new Senior Vice President of Engineering on Sept. 27. Pilkington is responsible for setting goals and direction for Enstrom engineers and started that role in July. He aims to make the engineering department more efficient with a larger program management team and “a semi-automated data change process.” His previous aerospace jobs include working as chief engineer at Columbia Helicopters.

Tom Brassington Joins Horizon as CTO

At the end of September, Tom Brassington joined Horizon Aircraft as its new chief technology officer (CTO), drawing on his eVTOL development and certification experience at Lilium. Brassington previously worked at Lilium since 2020, leaving as its head of systems design engineering, and at Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group before that.

New Crisalion CEO Manuel Heredia Ortiz

On Sept. 30, Spanish eVTOL startup Crisalion Mobility selected Dr. Manuel Heredia Ortiz as CEO to succeed the company’s founder Carlos Poveda, who will continue working on its board of directors. Ortiz joined Crisalion in 2023 as general manager to help plan corporate strategy. Ortiz worked at Airbus Defense & Space since 2004, most recently as a vice president responsible for production of A400M airplanes.

Changes at the Top of H2FLY

On Oct. 14, H2FLY announced the appointment of Ralph Müller as CEO. Josef Kallo, co-founder and past CEO of H2FLY, will transition to the role of chief technology officer (CTO). Under Kallo’s leadership, H2FLY achieved significant milestones, including the world’s first liquid hydrogen flight of the HY4 airplane and Joby’s hydrogen-electric SHy4 eVTOL demonstrator. H2FLY now enters a new phase focused on product development and certification; Müller joins the business to lend his extensive experience in leading international organizations, including BorgWarner and MANN+HUMMEL, to support the acceleration of the company’s growth.