TEXTRON HAS announced management changes at its Bell Helicopter and Cessna Aircraft units. David Assard has been promoted to the newly created post of president at Cessna, reporting to chairman and chief executive Russ Meyer.
Other changes at Cessna include the promotion of executive vice-president Gary Hay to the new position of vice-chairman, establishing him as the likely successor to Meyer, who reaches the mandatory retirement age of 65 in two years' time.
Assard joined Cessna in January as executive vice-president and chief operating officer. He will have direct responsibility for Cessna's piston-single programme.
At Bell, president Webb Joiner has been named chairman, a position vacant since 1992, while senior executive vice-president Lloyd Shoppa has been promoted to president.
Joiner's responsibilities are unchanged and he remains chief executive officer.
Source: Flight International
