Category: People

WestJet has reported that President and CEO, Ed Sims, will retire at the end of 2021. In four years with WestJet, Sims was responsible for the successful introduction of the company’s Boeing 787 long-haul aircraft, the launch of two new airline ventures, the significant expansion of WestJet’s international network, as well as the continued growth of WestJet Vacations, WestJet Cargo, and the WestJet Rewards program. Sims will remain as President and Chief Executive, as well as a member of the WestJet Group board of directors until December 2021. Moving forward, he will continue in a senior advisory role with Onex Read more

EirTrade Aviation, the aviation technical asset services and trading company, has opened a new facility in Dallas, Fort Worth, Texas. The 22,000 ft² facility will be headed by Bill Thompson who joined EirTrade in April 2021 and will complement EirTrade’s existing operations in Europe and Asia. Despite having opened its doors only last month, EirTrade shortly expects to receive its first CF6-80C2, RB211 and CFM56-7B engines into the facility. “I am delighted to be leading EirTrade’s expansion into the U.S., especially at a time when the industry is looking for ways to extract maximum value from older assets and source Read more

West Star Aviation has named Randy Miller as Technical Sales Manager for the Challenger/Global division at its Grand Junction, CO (GJT) location. Miller has over 25 years of aviation experience, previously working at StandardAero, Textron, Western Aircraft and West Star. He restores and flies antique aircraft, including a 1942 450hp Boeing Strearman and a 1946 Aeronca 7AC. He provides scenic rides and performs aerobatics via his personal Vintage Aviation business.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has appointed Stefan Vasic as its new Head of Marketing. In his new function, which he will assume on July 1. Vasic will be responsible for SWISS’s marketing communications in Switzerland and for implementing all marketing actions within the overall framework of the Lufthansa Group’s global marketing strategy. He will report to Head of SWISS Brand Experience Caroline Drischel, who took up her new position in charge of the amalgamated departments of Brand Management & Marketing Communication and Product Management, with overall responsibility for the customer experience throughout the travel chain, on February 1. Vasic has Read more

Recaro Aircraft Seating (Recaro) has appointed Sunitha Vegerla as its new General Manager of Recaro Aircraft Seating Americas in Fort Worth, Texas, effective June 1, 2021. Vegerla is currently the Director of Quality and Process Management and a member of the Americas executive leadership team. After three years in the role, current General Manager René Dankwerth will be transitioning into a new position as EVP Competence Center Composites at Recaro headquarters in Schwaebisch Hall, Germany. During his time as General Manager, Dankwerth ramped up the facility’s production capabilities to double the sales volume in 2018-2019, while maintaining on-time delivery to Read more

United Airlines (United) has named Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist the airline’s newest executive vice president. Enqvist was promoted on May 28, by the United Airlines Holdings Board of Directors. The promotion is effective immediately. As EVP and Chief Customer Officer, Enqvist continues his oversight of the airline’siInflight services, catering operations, corporate Real Estate, contact centers and customer care, customer strategy and innovation, and customer experience and analytics. In addition, Enqvist is responsible for developing and providing United’s employees with the leadership support needed to best serve the airline’s customers. Enqvist has been in the airline industry for more than Read more

GA Telesis Engine Services OY (GATES), the engine heavy maintenance unit of global aviation integrator GA Telesis, has appointed Carsten Holm as Managing Director. Holm will be responsible for operational and P&L results for the GATES operation in Finland while also overseeing regulatory compliance. Before being named Managing Director, Holm was GATES’ Chief Operating Officer, driving production, engineering, and planning processes. He joined GA Telesis in 2015, holding several positions of increasing responsibility, including Chief Commercial Officer and Vice President of Technical. Prior to joining GATES, he gained extensive experience with management and technical positions at the Danish cargo airline, Read more

Chicagoland aviation firm sage-popovich has promoted Shawn Farrington to Vice President of Flight Operations. Farrington has been with the company for over five years, and in that time has quickly ascended from a ground-level position to management. He joined sage-popovich in 2016 as an aircraft detailer before becoming a ground/line service and maintenance support tech. From there, he transitioned to the company’s parts distribution center where he participated in inventory audits and inspections for various airlines, OEM’s, part distributors, and resellers. Additionally, he was involved on various liquidations sage-popovich was engaged with for bankruptcy court proceedings.

Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems (Stevens), has promoted Brent Wiggins to Senior Manager of the company’s 24-hour/365-day AOG team. Wiggins brings years of hands-on experience to Stevens, holding positions ranging from technician to director of maintenance with companies such as L-3, Nicholas Air and Wing Aviation Group. He is also well-versed in Part 91,135, and 145 operations.  “Brent is an experienced leader with high ethical standards, technical competency, exceptional enthusiasm, and program management proficiencies that are aligned with Stevens’ vision,” said Dendall Wood, Stevens’ AOG General Manager. “Our mission is to achieve excellence in everything relating to the customer experience; we believe Read more