Last month James Bass replaced Chuck Suma as president and CEO of Piper Aircraft. The change was announced in a terse statement by the Vero Beach, Fla. manufacturer, but the decision would have been made by American Capital Strategies, the Bethesda, Md., investment firm that purchased Piper in 2003.

The change in leadership is “the result of an extensive effort to find the talent and skill sets necessary to lead New Piper Aircraft into the future,” the statement read. It also stated that Suma will become vice chairman “and be available in an advisory role to Piper management. Chuck will continue to interface with regulatory agencies, as well as dealers and customer organizations.”

Bass was formerly president and CEO of Suntron, a Phoenix-based electronics manufacturing company. He did not return a request for comment.

Piper delivered 13 Meridian turboprop singles in the first half of this year compared with 15 in the same period last year.