
- 25 Jan 2025 07:25 AM
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Leadership Moves, Jan/Feb 2025
Bell Promotes Robin Wendling to European Managing Director
Bell Textron announced the promotion of Robin Wendling to European Managing Director on Oct. 23. Since joining Bell in 2015, Wendling has led regional sales in Western Europe. He previously worked for Airbus Helicopters starting in 2010 and departed as its key accounts manager for helicopter sales and customer support in Argentina and Uruguay.
Chris Vandersteen Joins Columbia as CFO
On Oct. 28, Columbia Helicopters announced the hiring of its new chief financial officer (CFO) Chris Vandersteen. He previously worked in that position at MD Helicopters since 2022 and has two decades of experience working in a financial director position at a range of companies, including GE, Microsoft and Bombardier.
Archer Hires Talib Alhinai to Lead UAE Office
On Nov. 12, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer Archer Aviation announced the hiring of Talib Alhinai as head of strategy and policy for its operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Archer aims to operate some of its first revenue flights in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi and plans to further expand its office there. Alhinai previously worked as director of strategy at the Abu Dhabi Executive Office where he assessed the implementation of government policy. Since 2022, he has also been a board member of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
Volocopter Hires Oliver Vogelgesang as CFO
On Nov. 18, eVTOL developer Volocopter announced that its new CFO is Oliver Vogelgesang, who joined from working in that position at Lilium. He succeeds Christian Bauer, who remains Volocopter’s chief commercial officer (CCO). Prior to his tenure at Lilium (2021–2024), Vogelgesang worked for 15 years at Airbus, departing as its CFO for Airbus Germany and senior vice-president for the A320 commercial jet program.
Lars-Henrik Thorngreen Returns to NHV as CEO
European-based helicopter operator NHV hired Lars-Henrik Thorngreen as its new CEO, effective Nov. 18. Thorngreen previously worked at NHV prior to 2018, when he worked as managing director of NHV A/S and as chief operations officer for NHV Group. From 2018 to 2024, Thorngreen consulted and worked for several companies, including Air Greenland, Norlandair and Global Helicopter Service.
Marcus Bauer Is New CycloTech CEO
On Nov. 19, eVTOL start-up CycloTech of Linz, Austria, announced that Marcus Bauer will be its new CEO, succeeding Hans-Georg Kinsky, who led the company since 2016 and will remain on its advisory board. Bauer previously worked at Rolls-Royce, joining in 2021 before departing as its Global Head of Electrical and Electronics. His career experience also includes working at Siemens as Head of Engineering and Technology at its eAircraft division and working on flight simulation engineering at Airbus Helicopters from 2001–2015.
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares Resigns
Global automaker Stellantis — which owns 14 brands, including Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Opel and Peugeot — announced the resignation of its CEO Carlos Tavares on Dec. 1. Tavares was its first CEO following its creation through the merger of PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles; he also expanded the strategic partnership and investments with Archer for its Midnight eVTOL aircraft. The Stellantis board of directors will select a new CEO “within the first half of 2025.” Company operations until then will be overseen by an interim committee of executives and board members, who The Air Current expects will continue the Archer partnership.
Joby CFO Matt Field Departs for Oshkosh Corp.
On Dec. 2, Joby Aviation stated in a post on LinkedIn that its CFO Matt Field has taken a new position at truck manufacturer Oshkosh Corporation. Joby stated that Field will be an “active advisor” during the transition as Joby chooses a new CFO “with experience commercializing novel technologies.” Prior to joining the eVTOL developer in 2021, Field spent two decades at Ford Motor Company, joining as a financial analyst in 2000 and departing as CFO of its North America automotive division.
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