Story ID: 003
People in Aviation: October 2020
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: Jonathan Saltman joined the Aviation Clean Air ownership group, Toby Edwards and James Farley are co-CEOs of Victor, and Stephanie Chung is with Wheels Up.
Word Count: 1831
	
Jonathan Saltman has joined Aviation Clean Air (ACA) as a member of the company’s ownership group. Saltman founded International Aero Companies in 1986 and serves as president of the group, which includes International Aero Engineering (IAE). Earlier this year, IAE teamed with ACA on a portable unit for disinfecting aircraft while on the ground.

FTC Consulting appointed Alexander Simic chairman. Formerly technical director of FTC, Simic has decades of experience in commercial and business aviation, bringing expertise in flight safety and quality management, CAMO, as well as business administration and large infrastructure projects management.

Victor has promoted Toby Edwards and James Farley to co-CEOs. Clive Jackson, who had been CEO and led the buyout with a small group of new investors, is taking the role of executive chairman.  Edwards initially served as a member services executive when he joined Victor in July 2012 and helped build and train the sales, operations, and flight management teams, as well as recruit a U.S. team when the company launched in North America in 2015. Farley, who joined Victor in 2012 as head of product, has been responsible for Victor's global profit and loss oversight, has steered the brand and marketing team, and has served as head of CRM, head of data, and head of strategy and planning.

Ruag International selected André Wall as CEO. Wall has 25 years of global aviation experience and has been chief technical officer at the Spanish airline Iberia.

Wencor Group promoted Shawn Trogdon to CEO. He succeeds Chris Curtis, who is retiring at the end of the month. Trogdon, who was CFO, joined Wencor in 2014 as global controller after holding senior finance positions at Wesco Aircraft Holdings, Landmark Aerospace, and Grant Thornton.

CAE named Daniel Gelston group president of Defense & Security based in Washington, D.C. Gelston previously served as president of L3Harris Technologies' Broadband Communications Systems sector and president of the Communication Systems-West division, and held executive positions with Smiths Detection and Cobham Tactical Communications and Surveillance.

The International Aerobatic Club elected Jim Bourke president. He succeeds Robert Armstrong, who served as IAC president since March 2018. Bourke, currently the second-ranked freestyle aerobatic pilot in the U.S. and sixth-ranked in the world, has been a member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team and is owner of Knife Edge Software, which makes flight simulation products including RealFlight simulator.

Elite Jets Charters promoted two of its pilots to top-level positions. Mark London, previously general manager, and Stephen Myers, formerly assistant chief pilot, have been promoted to president and executive v-p, respectively. London assumes a role previously held by founder Dan Randolph, who remains CEO. Before joining Elite Jets, London was president of London Aviation Group.

Stephanie Chung is stepping into a new role as chief growth officer for Wheels Up. Most recently president of JetSuite, Chung has more than 30 years of aviation industry experience, including at US Airways, Delta Air Lines, and Bombardier.

Singapore Technologies Engineering named Lim Serh Ghee COO. Serh Ghee, who joined ST Engineering’s Aerospace business in 1994, has held roles in the company’s aerospace businesses, ultimately becoming president of Aerospace in 2014. Jeffrey Lam will succeed Serh Ghee as president of the Aerospace sector. Lam joined the unit in 2011 and most recently was deputy president. Meanwhile, Eleana Tan is retiring from her role as chief corporate officer, a position she’s held since mid-2017 after serving as CFO for the company.

Embraer named Martyn Holmes chief commercial officer of its commercial aviation business. Martyn, who joined the company in 2012 after serving with an engine manufacturer, most recently served as v-p for Europe, Russia, and Central Asia for Embraer. Cesar Pereira, a 17-year Embraer veteran, is relocating from the company’s Singapore office to Amsterdam to take over as v-p of Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) for the commercial business. Raul Villaron, who was v-p of the Middle East and Africa, has moved to the new position of v-p of Asia-Pacific for the commercial business, and Mark Neely, formerly regional v-p of sales in North America, was appointed v-p of the Americas for Embraer Commercial Aviation. Michael Sullivan joined L2 Aviation as CFO. Sullivan has 25 years of leadership experience, previously holding CFO roles with Amherst Holdings, Guaranty Residential Lending, and Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation.

NXT Communications appointed Stephen Newell chief commercial officer. Newell has more than 20 years of aviation and satcom experience, including as v-p of business development for Flyht Aerospace Solutions and chief commercial officer at TrueNorth Avionics (now owned by Satcom Direct).

IBA appointed Phil Talbot chief technology officer. Talbot joins the aviation data and analytics specialist with more than 20 years of experience in financial services and asset management technology, most recently as global IT and security director with Strategic Insight.
	
Robert Knox was promoted to chief accounting officer for AvAir. Knox, previously senior v-p of finance for the aftermarket parts specialist, joined AvAir in 2016 with 20 years of finance experience with companies including Intel Corp.

Kai Seymour is stepping into management training at Sheltair, formally joining the family business founded by his grandfather Jerry Holland, who is chairman, CEO, and owner, and steered by his mother and president Lisa Holland, president, and father, Frank Seymour, senior v-p. Kai Seymour, who brings the next generation to the business, brings a background of management, marketing, sales, and customer services to the company, founding the marketing firm Xplicit Promotions and previously serving with Vector Marketing, Faircount Media Group, and with the customer service and line teams at Sheltair.

Ron Soret returned to King Aerospace Commercial Corp., as executive v-p. Soret formerly was president of King before joining Aeria Luxury Interiors in 2011 and also has served with Gore Design, Associated Air Center, and The Dee Howard Company.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) named Michael Hertzendorf v-p of operations. Hertzendorf spent 29 years as a special operations aviator with the U.S. Army and most recently was CEO of Nuair. In addition, HAI appointed Chris Martino, who joined the operations department in 2015, as senior director of operations and international affairs. Zac Noble, who was deputy director of flight operations and technical services, is now director of maintenance and technology. HAI further moved its education program to the Operations Department and promoted Greg Brown to director of education. Brown had been manager of education.

Garet Turner is joining the Association of Air Medical Services as v-p of strategic engagement and member experience on September 1. Turner most recently was chief development officer for the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE) and the ASAE Research Foundation in Washington, D.C., and also has served with the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Purdue University, George Mason University, and the Trust for the National Mall.

SterlingRisk Aviation hired Travis Marshall to serve as v-p, senior account executive. Marshall has 12 years of aviation experience and has served in the aviation insurance sector since 2011, previously with HUB International Northwest, London Aviation Underwriters, and NationAir Aviation Insurance.

DRA and sister company 328 Support Services named Jose Costas as v-p of aircraft sales. Costas has 20 years of global aviation industry experience, most recently holding senior roles with Embraer’s commercial and executive jets businesses.

ACR Electronics appointed Marc Medeiros as v-p of Artex and promoted James Hunter to sales and product manager. Medeiros has held technical, sales, and management roles over the past 25 years with companies including Cessna Aircraft, Aeroflex Test Solutions, Zodiac Aerospace, Rockwell Collins, and most recently, AVI Aviation. Hunter, who has been managing Artex OEM sales for the past four years at ACR Electronics, has more than 30 years of aviation experience.

Liteye Systems hired Matt Pflieger to serve as v-p of finance. Pflieger previously served with L3, SAIC, and CACI.  

Aero Asset appointed Philip Louis Amadeus as sales director based in London. Amadeus is a pilot operator who has amassed more than 10,000 flight hours, including with a number of helicopter models, and has launched and operated his own charter business.

Scott Toom has rejoined GlobalParts as director of business solutions. Toom, who initially served with GlobalParts in 2012, has also worked with Raytheon Aircraft, APPH, and most recently, Electromech Technologies.

Bruce Atlas joined Pentastar Aviation Charter as director of quality assurance. Most recently quality engineer for GE Avionics, Atlas previously held roles as chief inspector, manager of quality assurance, director of quality, and quality assurance engineer.

Gulfstream Aerospace appointed Murtaza Hassan as general manager of the Gulfstream St. Louis service center. Hassan brings more than 20 years of aviation maintenance experience to the role, including with Gulfstream affiliate Jet Aviation, Dassault, Flexjet, Bombardier, and Atlantic Aero.

Mark Cook joined Alto Aviation as OEM business development manager. Cook has 25 years of sales and business experience, including 14 with Rosen Aviation.

Bombardier appointed Marc Beaudette as general manager of its Fort Lauderdale service center and Michel Menard as general manager in Tucson. Beaudette is a 30-year company executive who previously managed the Tucson service center. Menard, who has 30 years of aviation industry experience, has previously served as v-p and general manager for StandardAero and Dassault as well as in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Western Aircraft named Tonya Wood interiors manager. Wood joins Western Aircraft from Gulfstream Aerospace, where she held varying positions including principal designer and senior pricing analyst. She also has served as the director of interior architectural design for J. Banks Design Group.

Twin Commander Aircraft hired Andrew Wilson as technical service manager. Wilson previously served as maintenance controller and flight operations support for Dynamic Aviation and before that ran his own inspection and maintenance operation.

Matt Patterson joined Evans Composites as quality assurance manager. Patterson, who has 21 years of aviation experience including 10 years as an airframe licensed mechanic, previously served with Raytheon and L-3 Communications. 

JetHQ added Josh Tremain as manager of contracts and business development. Tremain has 12 years of aviation experience as an escrow agent with Insured Aircraft Title Service based in metro Oklahoma City and serves as a unit training manager for the Oklahoma Air National Guard.

Rob Burch joined Professional Aviation Associates as a regional sales manager, working with customers in the Northeast and Southwest regions. He has 15 years of aviation experience, most recently as director of sales for Avgroup and before that as a sales associate for Global Parts.

AeroParts Now appointed Forefront Aerospace Services president Robert Bial to its Customer Advisory Board. Bial brings 30 years of aviation and part manufacturing leadership experience to the board.

Western Aircraft hired Randy Miller as a regional sales manager. Miller brings more than 25 years of corporate aviation sales experience to his new role, previously worked for companies including Textron Aviation, StandardAero, and most recently Constant Aviation.