Karen Walker
Gulfstream is basing its international sales organisation in London as part of a push to increase its overseas sales.
Bill Boisture, Gulfstream's president and chief executive officer, says the London office will be "...an important first step in expanding the strength of our international team substantially."
Historically, says Boisture, Gulfstream's mix of international versus US sales has been split 20:80, although the overseas portion has increased in recent months. "If we increase our proportion of international sales by 1% a year over the next five years, that would work for me," says Boisture.
Company executives believe their efforts will be further helped when the planned takeover by General Dynamics is completed later this year. Boisture says he believes the deal will be completed by August or September and it will create a company whose revenues are $8.4 billion, of which Gulfstream will account for almost 45% of net earnings.
Identity
"Gulfstream is a big deal in a big company called General Dynamics," says Boisture.
Gulfstream will operate as its own business unit and will keep its own identity and brand name.
There will be no management or strategic direction changes although GD's international presence is expected to help Gulfstream's overseas' expansion.
"We have talked to our people and our customers and they are excited about this deal," says Boisture. "The only people who are not enthusiastic about it are our competitors."
Meanwhile, Gulfstream has completed the first phase of its study into the possible development of a supersonic business jet, a project the company revealed at Farnborough last year.
Boisture says the study has convinced the company there is a market, but two "substantial" technological hurdles - sonic boom suppression and propulsion - remain. "It is many years away," acknowledges Boisture.
Source: Flight Daily News
