Brazilian business aviation services company Líder Aviation is promoting its COO, Junia Hermont, to CEO effective next month. She will take over from Eduardo Vaz, who after 25 years as CEO will move into the chairman role. At the same time, Bruna Assumpção will become superintendent of business aviation.
Hermont is the first female chief in the firm’s 65-year history, but is not an outlier—40 percent of Líder’s leadership roles are filled by women. Vaz began as a trainee in 1968, and Hermont started as a manager in 1998.
“Junia is an innovative professional, extremely competent, and with 25 years of business aviation experience—all of them here at Líder,” said Vaz. “The transition process is happening smoothly and with the assurance that it’s the correct decision for the company.”
Líder has more than 1,450 employees, a fleet exceeding 50 aircraft, an air charter operation, an offshore helicopter operation, and an FBO and handling arm that has a presence at 21 airports, as well as business aviation aircraft sales and maintenance. It also represents Honda Aircraft in Brazil. Other services include flight simulator training, aviation insurance sales, and helicopter rotor repair.